Trade Category Manager

**Company Description**

We are a global specialty and branded pharmaceutical company, improving the health of patients across the world through our high quality and affordable medicines. Active at every stage of the value chain, we are uniquely diversi?ed by geography, product and manufacturing capability.
Aspen is a dynamic organisation built on entrepreneurial strength and forward-thinking minds. We attract high performing individuals who are passionate about their career and have a desire to exceed expectations. At aspen, not only do we source for the best talent but we also provide a host of opportunities for continuous development.
The Group’s key business segments are Manufacturing and Commercial Pharmaceuticals comprising Regional Brands and Sterile Focus Brands. We have approximately 9 100 employees at 69 established offices in over 50 countries and we improve the health of patients in more than 150 countries through our high quality, affordable medicines.

**OBJECTIVE**:
Develop and execute strategies to drive category growth, market share, and profitability through effective management of product categories within the trade channels. Turning brand strategies into commercial propositions requires the Trade Category Manager to work diligently working with sales, marketing, and operational teams. This is to ensure that category objectives are met, and that the portfolio meets the needs of both customers and consumers. The role requires a strong understanding of the shoppers in different segments across the category with an ability to identify challenges within the FMCG environment and develop shopper and customer-based solutions.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Ensure all financial and non-financial objectives are achieved for the trade marketing channel as set by the Trade Marketing Manager in collaboration with the Commercial Head
- Plan, implement, execute and monitors sales activities to drive performance on a national and regional territories aligned to marketing plan (customer or brand level)
- Be accountable and drive goals and objectives that are channel specific that include and not limited to include and not limited to FMCG Wholesalers, Cash & Carry, and Pharma Wholesaler
- Detailed understanding of shopper insights & Customer Propositions
- Bridges gaps between sales and marketing (brand)
- NPD Launch & Relaunch into trade - ensuring the correct market share uptake at a store level, collaborating with Channel Ops. Managers and Merchandizing teams
- Assisting with Trade Decks for KAM from a channel marketing perspective
- Understand and analysing category insights and providing recommendations and opportunities to the commercial teams
- To provide guidance on in-store POS development (assessing customer and market needs)
- Assessing Distribution Must Have Lists based on timing of promotions
- Understanding and provide updates on pricing information
- Promotion Mix and Strategy (aligning channel needs to brand plan)
- Providing Demand Forecasting insights based on market dynamics
- Agency Management (execution on store level)
- Cycle Decks for Ops
- Developing Merchandising Flow Strategy
- Providing input to Planogram Reviews & Sign Off
- Trade Budget Management

**EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE**:

- Matric
- Tertiary - Marketing/Health Science/ Commercial related Degree
- 3+ years trade marketing experience in FMCG environment essential
- Successful track record and experience specifically in FMCG and Trade shopper environment
- Financial literacy
- Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Word
- Ability to work on Qlikview models is advantageous.
- Experience with shopper data tools supplied by customers.

**KNOWLEDGE**:

- Knowledge of FMCG landscape across various key account channels
- Customer Store Universe
- Customer Data Portals
- Customer data mining & analytics
- Category Reviews Development & Story telling
- Demand Forecasting
- POS Development
- Shopper Marketing
- Category Management
- Finance -PnL
- Trade Marketing Principles
- Perfect Store Creation.
- Planogram Development
- Merchandising principles
- Agency Management
- Pharmaceutical Laws i.e. Pricing / Marketing
- Budget Recon
- EAN PDC
- NPD
- Trade Presenter Development
- ROI -Promotions
- Artwork management
- Must Have list Development

**ATTRIBUTES**:

- Initiative
- Accuracy
- Confidentiality
- Customer focused
- Interpersonal sensitivity
- Logical thinking
- Information seeking
- Enquiring mind
- Self-development orientation
- Cultural sensitivity
- Vision
- Integrity
- Planning and organizing
- Analytical
- Decision making
- Commercial astuteness
- Ability to handle pressure
- Negotiation skills
- Entrepreneurial spirit
- Persuasive
- Ability to delegate
- Flexible and strategic thinker

**SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES**:

- Planning skills
- Time management
- Problem solving
- Budgeting
- Forecasting
- Analysing trends
- Service orientation
- Decision making skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Strong Customer Relationship Mana