Category Manager - Kids Segment

Category Manager

Description:

We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Category Manager Kids Portfolio to lead the strategy, growth, and profitability of the Kids category. The role requires deep understanding of child-focused consumer behavior, product innovation, portfolio management, and trade execution within the FMCG ecosystem.

The ideal candidate must have hands-on experience managing Kids-focused FMCG categories (e.g., baby care, kids nutrition, kids personal care, kids snacks, etc.).

Key Responsibilities:

1. Category Strategy & Growth

- Develop and execute the overall category strategy for the Kids portfolio.

- Drive topline growth, market share, and profitability.

- Identify white spaces and innovation opportunities within the category.

- Monitor category trends, competitor activity, and consumer insights.

2. P&L Management

- Own and manage the complete category P&L.

- Drive revenue growth while maintaining healthy gross margins.

- Optimize pricing, trade spends, and promotional investments.

- Track SKU-wise performance and rationalize portfolio where required.

3. Product Development & Innovation

- Lead new product development initiatives in collaboration with R&D.

- Conceptualize packaging, positioning, and communication tailored to kids & parents.

- Manage product lifecycle from launch to scale-up.

- Ensure regulatory compliance specific to kids' products.

4. Consumer & Market Insights

- Deeply understand buying behavior of parents and children.

- Leverage data to identify growth drivers and demand patterns.

- Conduct market visits and trade audits to identify execution gaps.

5. Trade & Channel Execution

- Work closely with Sales and Trade Marketing teams for effective execution.

- Develop channel-specific strategies (GT, MT, E-commerce).

- Plan and execute seasonal campaigns and promotions.

- Monitor distribution, availability, and shelf visibility.

6. Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Collaborate with Supply Chain for demand planning and inventory optimization.

- Align with Marketing for ATL/BTL campaigns and digital initiatives.

- Coordinate with Finance on forecasting and budget management.

Key Requirements:

- 5 to 10+ years of experience in FMCG category management or brand management.

- Mandatory experience in Kids category (baby care, kids food/nutrition, kids personal care, etc.).

- Strong understanding of category analytics and retail dynamics.

- Proven experience managing P&L and driving profitable growth.

- Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.

- MBA preferred.