Category Manager

Be a lead contributor to the Windows Consumer Category Management team for the Microsoft Consumer Category Sales & Marketing (CCSM) organization across Africa & MEA region.

You will be pivitol in the delivery of our Africa growth plan. Defining go-to-market programs by prioritizing and aligning initiatives across the partner eco-system, and executing strategic plans to drive growth & business transformation.

**Responsibilities**:
**Planning and prioritization of initiatives**
- Ensure readiness across segment and partner teams. Develop and share clear insights into growth drivers and blockers in Africa, competitive situation and a focus on the Voice of the Customer to feedback into Corp.
- Land strong modern device assortment by retail partner, across all price bands in partnership with Device Sales leads and local device partners.
- Partner with local silicon partners (Intel, AMD) to build co-marketing and co-sell through plans with OEM partners.
- Review and invest in select partner led demand gen campaigns with top retail partners, driving thru the line co-marketing.

**Operationalizing programs and initiatives**
- Execute category sales plans that maximize key market level seasonal selling beats (Back to School, Holiday, Spring) along with retailer specific selling beats.
- Build and execute consumer promotional plans to drive volume, PC adoption, or win share.
- Partner with retailers and channel marketing teams to drive always on in store and online marketing through distributors that drives growth and optimizes channel footprint.

**Managing and monitoring**
- Manage & Monitor the business identifying upside and managing risk or gaps. Deliver on the business rhythm driving the review and planning cycles.
- Manage retail marketing investment funds with high level of forecast accuracy, ensuring budget is fully planned and utilized each quarter.
- Monitor Windows market share position, building plans to grow share versus key competitors.

**Qualifications**:
Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.**Key Competencies**:

- ** Analysis and Insight (25%)**:

- **Use internal and external data/research to assess industry/market trends, incorporate new concepts in to marketing strategies, position Microsoft products in the competitive ecosystem and understand the relevance of Microsoft products in partner portfolios.
- **Marketing Principles (25%)**:

- **Develop integrated marketing plans and strategic market objectives by channel partner, drive marketing execution, and measure execution and return on investment (ROI).
- ** Strategic Business Planning (10%)**:

- **Create strategic business objectives and category plans across all consumer touch points, coordinate partner segmentation and prioritization, and strategically influence assortment and volume builds. Build strong planning guidelines and programs for field teams to leverage that align to our Category Management strategy and vision with our key accounts (Market Makers) across the region.
- ** Consultative Leadership (20%)**:

- ** Business Operational Excellence (20%)**:

- **Drive and execute against our ROB, scorecards and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets, drive our Growth agenda across the Sub region

**Who We Are Looking For**

**Skills**:

- Entrepreneurial mindset and innovative thinking to identifying and executing business opportunities
- Ability to analyze sales data, draw relevant conclusions, develop accurate business plans and forecasts, and drive execution
- Understanding of budget, profit & loss, margin, investment, and operating expense accountability
- Experience planning and executing marketing strategies and activities that drive business results while remaining true to the brand.
- Have experience translating Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) into actionable plans to accelerate or capitalize on growth opportunities.

**Qualifications and Experience**:

- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing or related field, or related experience. MBA a plus.
- Understanding of consumer sales channels, as well as the retail landscape and digital marketplace
- A character that exemplifies Microsoft values including integrity, honesty, openness, personal excellence, constructive self-criticism, and mutual respect