Category Development Manager

Category Development Manager
BGC, Taguig | On-site | Mon–Friday

Role Overview
The Category Development Manager is responsible for driving category growth through strategic planning, performance analysis, innovation management, and cross-functional collaboration. The role leads category direction, oversees commercial initiatives, manages category profitability, and ensures successful execution of New Product Launches (NPLs) aligned with overall business objectives.

Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Business Management

Develop and lead the strategic direction of the assigned category

Lead Annual Business Planning (ABP) and Long-Range Planning (LRP) initiatives

Conduct regular category reviews to assess business performance, market trends, and competitive dynamics

Identify growth opportunities and diagnose category performance gaps

Prioritize key commercial levers and initiatives to achieve category targets

Manage category P&L to deliver financial and growth objectives

Partner closely with Revenue Growth Management (RGM) teams on pricing and pack architecture strategies

Track New Product Launch (NPL) performance and evaluate impact on category health

Build business cases for innovation projects and exploratory initiatives

Champion breakthrough ideas and growth-focused initiatives

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Governance

Represent category strategies and priorities in leadership discussions and planning forums

Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, Finance, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to ensure alignment

Facilitate regular category touchpoints and governance routines across support functions

Influence senior leadership teams to secure support for category initiatives and investments

Align local category priorities with regional or organizational strategies

Ensure timely execution and monitoring of category plans and initiatives

New Product Launch (NPL) Management

Lead end-to-end planning and execution of New Product Launches

Develop launch volume projections and endorsement plans

Coordinate with stakeholders on key visuals (KV), artwork briefs, and packaging requirements

Manage POSM development, approvals, and launch readiness activities

Create sell-in decks, product stories, and sales toolkits for commercial teams

Develop sampling, employee engagement, and activation strategies

Ensure launch supportability including production timelines, raw materials, packaging materials, and deployment planning

Coordinate system readiness and stakeholder alignment for successful launch execution

Partner with channel teams to ensure aligned below-the-line (BTL) support for launches

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Business Management, Economics, or related field

At least 5–8 years of experience in Category Management, Brand Management, Trade Marketing, or Commercial Strategy

Strong background in category planning, innovation management, and product launches

Experience managing category P&L and commercial performance

Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management skills

Excellent communication and presentation skills

Proficient in data analysis, business planning, and cross-functional project management

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