Category Director

Hybrid, 3 days/week in office.

Advantages
Dental care
Disability insurance
Employee assistance program
Life insurance
On-site parking
Paid time off
RRSP match
Vision care
Wellness program

Responsibilities
Lead Category Related Routines
* Lead category-related routines and processes, including Innovation Management (Stages & Gates), S&OE, Executive S&OP, Demand Planning, Monthly Financial Review, Key Metrics Review (KMR), VRM Reporting, SHARE Results, Forecast Management, and developing and owning a list of R&Os.
* Optimize work processes with a focus on continuous improvement.

Team Leadership
* Provide thought leadership and coaching to the team, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
* Lead capability planning and team development to ensure market leadership and career growth.
* Lead by example as part of the commercial leadership team.

Strategic Planning and Execution
* Develop and implement integrated annual and three-year business plans aligned with partner strategies and overall business goals.
* Achieve sales and volume goals through effective category plans and brand strategies.
* Create and execute innovation strategies supported by strong business cases.
* Provide innovative, fact-based solutions and thought leadership.
* Act as the category expert, staying updated on market trends and competitor activities to inform strategic decisions.
* Act as champion of the category vision and strategies internally and externally.

Financial Metrics and KPIs
* Manage financial deliverables and business KPIs, including revenue, volume, and profit targets, supported by Revenue Growth Management (RGM).
* In partnership with Channel, Customer and Operating Teams, understand plan delivery variances and manage R&Os to optimize/gap solve.
* Achieve share growth targets by brand and category.
* Organize score carding and lead business reviews and in collaboration with relevant cross-functional teams.
* Track innovation metrics and oversee portfolio and SKU management.

Relationship Management & Cross-functional Collaboration
* Work closely with partners, channel team, customer team, and operating teams to ensure cohesiveness and delivery of category objectives.
* Lead and influence senior leadership and internal teams to align on category plans and strategic initiatives.
* Collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance leaders to manage operating costs and drive operational excellence.

Portfolio Management
* Develop strategies with brand partners for an optimal product mix, balancing new and existing products across channels.
* Leverage insights and competitive intelligence to inform strategies and innovation platforms.
* Implement assortment management, including optimization analysis.



Qualifications
* Proven experience in leading a business unit in the beverage industry or other CPG organization, with a proven track record of meeting or exceeding business objectives.
* A blend of commercial awareness, analytical and creative thinking, partnered with a strategic mindset.
* Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas and influence stakeholders.
* Strong financial acumen with solid knowledge of performance reporting and financial/budgeting processes.
* Ability to operate both tactically and strategically even under tough circumstances.

Summary
If this role sounds like a good fit for you, please APPLY ONLINE or submit your resume directly to Mina Khalil at Mina.Khalil@randstad.ca

Thank you for applying for the role. We’ll review your application and connect shortly if you meet all the requirements.

Good luck!

Randstad Canada is committed to fostering a workforce reflective of all peoples of Canada. As a result, we are committed to developing and implementing strategies to increase the equity, diversity and inclusion within the workplace by examining our internal policies, practices, and systems throughout the entire lifecycle of our workforce, including its recruitment, retention and advancement for all employees. In addition to our deep commitment to respecting human rights, we are dedicated to positive actions to affect change to ensure everyone has full participation in the workforce free from any barriers, systemic or otherwise, especially equity-seeking groups who are usually underrepresented in Canada's workforce, including those who identify as women or non-binary/gender non-conforming; Indigenous or Aboriginal Peoples; persons with disabilities (visible or invisible) and; members of visible minorities, racialized groups and the LGBTQ2+ community.

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