Category Manager - Switches & Switchgear (Category Strategy)

• Lead the work on annual and 5 yr plan for the category.
• Act as P&L gate keeper for the category and participating in monthly review meeting.
• Lead/Assist the process of new product development from consumer insight to product concept development, driving innovation agenda for the organization while working closely with external and internal teams (R&D, Design, Service, etc)
• Lead/Assist the above annual process for all channels (General Trade, Modern Trade, eCommerce, Exports, CSD, etc) to have a comprehensive category map for different product categories
• Along with designing product concepts, also lead/assist work for effective 360-degree communication to ensure product value proposition reaches target customers
• Undertake/Drive market scan to identify new potential categories basis core/adjacency to existing business or basis any opportunity that may come up. Market scan will include preparing business plans, go-to-market plans and launch plans as well
• Lead/Assist the commercial refresh process to ensure, channel wise product plan & channel wise profitability plan is designed and delivered, product life cycle management decisions – Refresh/Reposition/Re-price.
• Act as a knowledge center for the category to keep a tab on all external developments
• Develop short term and long term growth plan for the category and enable governance to achieved the defined objectives
• Conduct regular competition benchmarking – product portfolio, pricing, communication across different channels
• Assist in designing the core market research brief - projects including U&A, Continuous Brand Track, opportunity analysis, consumer immersion, competitive analysis & social media listening to improve brand equity
• Drive planned/adhoc Micro Marketing Plans across planned geographies for the branch/region.
• Lead/Guide team of junior category managers in the team

Job Requirements

• 7-8 years of work experience working across Category Planning/Business Planning/Product Management in Switches /Switchgear.
• Experience in assisting the product portfolio, utilizing consumer usage, attitudes, needs and wants for product development direction
• New product launch know-how (economics, process, program, skills)
• Have experience planning and executing marketing strategies and activities that drive business results while remaining true to the brand.
• Ability to turn online and offline data into meaningful insights and insights that drive action.
• Have a sharp analytical skills and strong financial acumen
• Leading and thriving in ambiguity & cross group collaboration
• Proactive individual that is a self-starter and takes initiative
• Strong, concise presentation skills and storytelling
• Innovative, team oriented, and have a desire to participate in change and appreciate a dynamic environment with rapidly changing priorities
• Be a relentless driver who is skilled in getting work done thru influence of others - both internally at V-Guard and externally through partners
• MBA from premier business schools preferred