Category Manager - QSR/Retail

We are looking for a person with a positive mindset to drive operational excellence, collaboration and support our dynamic team in laying a robust foundation of a global brand that is entering India to establish and advance itself, and in which you will have opportunities 4-8 years prior experience in category/product management, new product (food/beverage) development, product/consumer marketing

- Holds an MBA or equivalent degree in Marketing Management

- Industry preference: FMCG / Consumer Goods / Retail/ F&B/ Beverages

- Business & functional acumen, critical & strategic thinking, innovation & problem solving, project & process management skills, ownership & accountability, result orientation, learnability, agility & adaptability, customer centricity, cross-functional/ external partner collaboration

- Drive product category short- and long-term strategy with the right mix and pricing, to grow sales and margins with a competitive edge

- Manage Product category as per brand guidelines, to maximize profitability and rationalize based on performance in sales/ profitability

- Prepare and track financial plans in line with the forecasted products revenue contribution strategy

- Ensure product level margin and profitability through logical and structured pricing.

- Drive end-to-end product launch management from Research, Development, Packaging, and Launch.

- Validate recipe validation & create new product recipe and manage, as required, at vendor level production units/kitchens. Develop recipe tent card along with BOM for SKUs. Also, develop food packaging for existing & new product development, as required.

- Decide on product specifications including recipes, packaging, nutrition, shelf life etc.

- Work with chefs / Food Technologists to create prototypes and test them internally

- Identify key vendors for sourcing/ production, negotiate commercials & work with them on the final product

- Roll out and drive the product innovation and promotion plans for the year/ sale cycle, in collaboration with marketing. Set product development timeline & meet the delivery time

- Maintain and update menu, work with Marketing to develop Food BOBs and in-store visual assets. Define Service guideline for both old & new product specification.

- Perform Food and beverage quality audits

- Track the entire P&L responsibility for products, including product costing and margin analysis