Category Manager OTC

Description Overview

As a Category Manager OTC, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organisation. You will act as the voice of the consumer, ensuring that insights translate into impactful strategies while driving both the category and country P&L.

Reporting to the Category & Market Lead, you will lead the development and execution of the marketing strategy for your assigned category. To succeed in this role, you will need a strong understanding of local market dynamics, consumer behaviour, and the competitive landscape, enabling you to identify opportunities, anticipate challenges, and deliver sustainable growth.

Scope of the Role

1. Deliver Business Goals & Implement the Category Marketing Strategy

• Contribute to annual, quarterly, and monthly business planning cycles.
• Support the delivery of category performance targets and strategic priorities.

2. Develop Best‑in‑Class Marketing Activation Plans

• Own the category pipeline and activation priorities, ensuring strong rollout of central initiatives.
• Lead the development of marketing activation plans with clear business KPIs, in partnership with CS&I, Market Leads, and the local media agency.

3. Lead Analytics & the Local Category Success Model

• Collaborate with Category Leads, CS&I, Regulatory, and Central Teams to ensure alignment behind local marketing activities.
• Lead campaign performance tracking, analyze results, and optimize plans for continuous improvement.
• Feed local learnings into the central Category Success Model and Connection Planning.
• Drive a strong test‑and‑learn discipline across touchpoints and categories, supported by robust competitive analysis.
• Contribute to monthly IMEX meetings by presenting category plans and identifying support needed to win in market.

4. Lead Category Market Analysis & Performance Tracking

• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and consumer feedback.
• Lead competitive analysis to inform marketing strategies.
• Use analytics to make data‑driven recommendations for future campaigns and activities.
• Collaborate with Central Teams to share performance updates and competitive insights.

Success Factors

• Consumer & Marketing Understanding  
  A strong consumer‑centric mindset with experience in activation planning and collaboration with central teams.
• Communication & Influence  
  Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate facts into insights and clear recommendations.
• Analytical Excellence  
  Ability to use data and analytics to shape strategies, optimize performance, and guide decision‑making.
• Ability to Manage Complexity  
  Strong prioritization skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Growth Mindset  
  Comfort with new challenges, continuous learning, and adapting to change.

Experience Required

• Minimum 5+ years of progressive experience in CPG or Consumer Health.

• Proven experience managing analytically demanding initiatives.

• Demonstrated success leading cross‑functional teams.

• Strong preference for extensive experience in both Marketing and Sales.

• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment with shifting priorities.

• Experience developing and implementing effective strategies, processes, and controls, including trade fund management and planning processes such as S&OP and Stage Gate.

• Expertise in improving forecast models, segmentation frameworks, sales incentives, pricing strategies, and reporting tools to support channel strategy execution.

• Fluent English and Romanian language skills required; proficiency in another Eastern European language is considered a strong plus.