About the position
Our Client is looking for a Category Assistant to join their team
Location: Woodmead, Johannesburg
Role Description
- The Category Assistant provides operational, analytical and administrative support to Brand Managers to ensure the effective management and growth of retail categories.
- The role involves monitoring sales performance, margins and overall category performance, while supporting vendor engagements, marketing initiatives and promotional activities through data preparation, reporting and coordination.
- The position also supports the brand management function through pricing administration, promotional setups, product maintenance and performance reporting.
Responsibilities
Brand Performance Monitoring
- Monitor brand performance across sales and margins against targets.
- Identify and report performance variances to Brand Management.
- Provide administrative and operational support to Brand Managers.
- Assist with pricing administration, including JABs, pricing updates and promotional pricing setups.
- Maintain accurate product and pricing information within internal systems.
- Assist with maintaining product listings and supplier documentation
Data & Reporting Support
- Compile and maintain brand reports using internal retail data and external market data.
- Prepare and maintain category dashboards.
- Analyse sales trends, margins and brand performance.
- Highlight key performance trends and variances for management review
Marketing & Promotional Support
- Coordinate category promotions and marketing campaigns.
- Manage promotional calendars and monitor promotional timelines.
- Report on promotional performance, sales uplift and sell-through.
- Ensure promotions align with vendor agreements and brand plans.
- Conduct final promotional checks to ensure accuracy before go-live.
Vendor & Supplier Engagement Support
- Assist Brand Managers with preparation for vendor meetings.
- Support vendor performance tracking and reporting.
- Liaise with vendors to ensure accurate product, pricing and promotional information.
- Assist with maintaining supplier records and documentation.
Key Competencies & Skills
- Strong organisational and administrative skills.
- Understanding of retail pricing processes and promotional administration.
- Strong analytical and reporting skills.
- Effective communication and stakeholder coordination skills.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- High attention to detail and accuracy.
- Good problem-solving and time-management abilities.
Education & Experience
- Degree in Commerce, Economics, Business Analytics or a related field; OR
- Minimum of 2 years' experience in a retail, FMCG, beauty or analytical role.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Performance Tracking
- Accurate monitoring of promotional performance.
- Tracking promotional sell-through and sales uplift.
- Monitoring brand sales and margin performance against targets.
Promotional Process Management
- On-time delivery of promotional timelines.
- Accurate coordination and administration of promotional activities.
- Effective communication of promotional requirements and deadlines.
Promotional Auditing
- Final cross-check of all promotional lines loaded and executed before go-live.
- Ensuring promotional pricing and product information are accurate.
- Minimising promotional loading errors and discrepancies
Reporting & Administration
- Timely and accurate submission of category reports.
- Accurate maintenance of product and pricing information.
- Effective administrative support to Brand Managers
Desired Skills:
- Category Assistant
- Category Administrator
- Category Coordinator
