Category Head - Food

Role Overview:

We are seeking a seasoned Category Head to lead our Food division in Nigeria, driving the strategic vision and commercial performance of our diverse product portfolio. In this role, you will oversee the end-to-end category lifecycle, from product innovation and assortment planning to go-to-market execution. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including supply chain, sales, and finance, while maintaining strong relationships with key retail partners and distributors. Your leadership will directly influence market share growth, brand equity, and profitability, ensuring our food products remain the preferred choice for consumers across the region.

Key Responsibilities:

- Define and execute the long-term category strategy to capture market share and drive sustainable revenue growth within the competitive Nigerian FMCG landscape.

- Lead the end-to-end trade marketing initiatives to enhance product visibility and shelf-share, ensuring seamless alignment between brand objectives and retail execution.

- Manage the product portfolio lifecycle, including new product development and rationalization, to meet evolving consumer preferences and maximize category margins.

- Collaborate with regional sales teams to design and implement robust distribution strategies that ensure product availability across all key trade channels.

- Analyze complex market data and consumer insights to identify growth opportunities, enabling data-driven decision-making for pricing, promotions, and inventory management.

Required Skillset:

- Demonstrated expertise in Category Management and FMCG Marketing, with a proven track record of scaling food brands in emerging markets.

- Strong analytical capability to translate market trends and consumer behavior into actionable commercial strategies.

- Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and build long-term partnerships with distributors and retail partners.

- Proven ability to navigate the complexities of the Nigerian market, demonstrating high adaptability to local trade dynamics and operational challenges.

- Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to mentor high-performing teams and drive a culture of accountability.

- A Masters degree in Business Administration or a related field from a premier institute is highly preferred.

- Candidates must possess 8 to 10 years of progressive experience in the FMCG sector, with a focus on food categories.