Category Gm Grains, Ssa

**Auto req ID**: 274259BR
**At PepsiCo Africa, Middle East and South Asia, people from different backgrounds and experiences eagerly roll up their sleeves, pitch in and get to work. We share a desire to succeed, and to win We get great satisfaction knowing that our ideas are not only championed, but they are acted upon and brought to life.**

**Our commitment to creating the best consumer products begins with our people.**

**Position Location: Cape Town, South Africa**

**Main Purpose**:
The role leads a team of experts across our value chain (Global Procurement, Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing, Finance, R&D, and HR) to provide strategic and operational direction to position, build and grow the Grains category in Southern Africa. The GM utilises his/her experience, skills and knowledge in a diverse geographical, economic and people environment and drives market share and revenue/NOBPT growth. As the Grains P&L owner, the role has full accountability for the Grains business in the South Africa and is accountable to the VP Essential Foods. The role is responsible for aligning with the wider business, directing and leading across the value chain to ensure they deliver against the strategy and business plan. You are expected to have a passion for our consumers, and customers as well as our category and brands.

It is a high volume continuous flow business where the raw materials (wheat, maize and rice) constantly move into sites to be milled with limited storage. It is also a highly competitive low margin business with more then 100 competing maize millers and more then 25 competing wheat millers. More then 50% of revenue is generated in the general trade. You have to buy right, convert and distribute efficiently. Pricing is set by the competitive market.

**Key Accountabilities**:

- Accountable for the full P&L for Grains
- Lead the development of the Grains Category strategy, to drive the portfolio growth and meet medium to long-term growth targets for South Africa
- Translate the business strategy and objectives into business plans, secure alignment and work intimately with your cross-functional partners to deliver on targets.
- Drive strategy and execution by directing, engaging and inspiring your multi-disciplinary team across functions (Marketing, Sales, R&D, Integrated Supply Chain, Global Procurement, HR and Finance), fostering a high level of cross-functional integration with all resources driving forward the category strategy and priorities. Key to coordinate the continuous flow of the high volume goods (inbound raw materails, conversion in factories, outbound logistics) through the system.
- Manage and monitor KPIs (incl. budget management), working with cross-functional partners to identify corrective actions as required
- Build your brands, directing your marketing team to ensure products have fit for purpose, insight-driven marketing plans (incl. marketing mix, pricing strategy, budget allocations).
- Oversee go-to-market priority setting for General Trade and Modern Trade (incl. sales budgets) to meet category objectives, partnering closely with the Commercial function to drive its execution.
- Drive innovation working with R&D and ensuring your marketing team are identifying the big bets that will cater to the needs of our consumers.
- Drive continuous improvement to keep the business competitive and drive effectiveness across the value chain.
- Champion cross functional teams to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs, increase productivity and become the lowest cost producer.
- Governance Control & legal compliance. Ensure total integrity in all company transactions, particularly in financial reporting / records.
- Build and develop top talent for the business by coaching/mentoring others and providing skills development opportunities.
- Own the key relationships with customers across the brands.
- Instill a culture which encourages team work, rewards performance and supports capability building.
- Lead the consolidation of cross-functional inputs to track and monitor cross-cutting processes (e.g. NPD, IBP and S&OP) and the delivery against business targets.
- Drive sustainable and competitive sourcing across the value chain of the business.
- Lead business continuity and risk initiatives.

#LI**:

- EXEC**
**Qualifications/Requirements**:**
Key Skills/Experience Required**:

- Bachelors Degree. Post graduate qualification or MBA recommended
- Functional Knowledge of Sales, Manufacturing, Finance, Marketing and Human Resource Management.
- 10+ years’ experience in relevant managerial and functional roles at a senior level. Experience gained in multinational / FMCG environment would be advantageous
- Ability to lead the development and implementation of results orientated business strategies and plans.
- Excellent verbal, written, financial & human relations skills
- Strong ability to manage external stakeholders including key government officials
- Ability to interact at all levels
- Able t