Category Manager - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract at Clicks Group

Introduction

• We are looking to appoint a FTC Category Manager to support the Key Accounts team. This role will be based at Clicks Head Office and report to the Key Accounts Executive.

Job description

Job Purpose:

• To ensures seamless execution and optimisation of media across retail environments, ultimately driving better engagement, media compliance, and campaign performance.

Sales Enablement

• Act as the primary operational point of contact for supplier brands and Category Managers/Buyers, partnering closely to  ensure campaigns are correctly scoped, booked, and delivered.
• Lead and coordinate campaign kickoff calls with suppliers, Category teams, and internal stakeholders to align objectives, timelines, deliverables, and success metrics.
• Manage the end-to-end intake process, including completion, validation, and tracking of campaign intake forms, briefs, and supporting documentation.
• Capture, load, and manage all confirmed media bookings ensuring accuracy across flight dates, formats, quantities and pricing.
• Own the handover process, ensuring briefs are complete, assets are aligned, timelines are clear, and campaigns are fully secured prior to activation.
• Track campaign confirmations and approvals to ensure media is locked in, inventory is protected, and no execution risk exists ahead of go-live.
• Support commercial closure by coordinating invoicing inputs, validating booked vs delivered media, and following up with relevant stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate billing.
• Maintain clear communication loops with Sales, Finance, and Operations teams to ensure campaigns move seamlessly.

Campaign Implementation & Lifecycle Management

• Coordinate the end-to-end execution of media campaigns across digital and in-store touchpoints, ensuring all elements are delivered on time and meet brand and technical standards.
• Handle campaign setup and booking.
• Liaise with stakeholders to gather briefs, creative assets, and clarify campaign requirements.
• Assess asset readiness and quality, flag issues, and maintain accurate asset libraries.
• Oversee daily and weekly media uploads, monitor live campaign performance, and confirm go-live status to stakeholders.

Technical Media Operations

• Manage integrations and workflows across proprietary to streamline campaign trafficking and scheduling.
• Troubleshoot technical issues, including ad serving errors, physical display discrepancies, and oversubscription of inventory.
• Plan and maintain display schedules across a dynamic media network (in-store digital screens, online placements, etc.), adapting to operational or promotional changes in real-time.
• Ensure all media assets meet retail media specs and quality assurance standards before deployment.
• Keep updated with platform and system version changes and adapt operations accordingly.

Campaign Performance Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement

• Generate and distribute campaign delivery and compliance reports to key stakeholders, highlighting successes, risks and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve any media or campaign discrepancies.
• Maintain detailed documentation and records to support performance auditing and campaign retrospectives.

Governance, Best Practices & Innovation

• Support adherence to data privacy regulations and media compliance standards (e.g., POPIA, GDPR, CCPA).
• Act as a quality gatekeeper, ensuring campaigns uphold media governance and brand safety principles.
• Regularly research and share retail media trends and platform innovations, contributing to evolving campaign best practices.
• Proactively propose operational improvements to streamline workflows, reduce turnaround times, and improve campaign accuracy.

Quoting, Billing & Financial Reconciliation

• Prepare accurate campaign quotes aligned to the approved rate cards and agreed pricing matrices as defined
• Track booked media inventory against delivered campaigns to ensure billing accuracy and contractual compliance.
• Liaise with finance and account teams to ensure timely invoicing and resolution of any discrepancies.
• Maintain transparent and auditable billing documentation for campaign activity and financial reporting.

Minimum requirements

Job related knowledge:

Essential:

• Operating plan development
• Supplier relationship management
• Procurement and Supply Chain
• Business Objectives and Strategies
• Business Processes
• Retail Management
• Market trends and competitor analysis
• Understanding of supplier co-op negotiations and trading terms
• Financial planning and budgets
• Relevant legislation
• Sales Margin Management 
• Knowledge of SME growth programmes and excellent industry networks 

Job related skills:

• Strong Financial/Business acumen with a merchant mindset
• Strong negotiation skills
• Planning and organisational skills
• Ability to build strong supplier relationships
• Competency in all Microsoft packages
• Verbal and written communication
• Problem solving and analytical thinking
• Strategic thinking and decision making
• Attention to detail
• Project management

Job experience:

Essential:

• 4-6 years Category Management experience
• 2 – 3 years experience managing specific objectives
• Experience working with local supplier networks

Education:

• B Degree or Diploma in Retail, Purchasing Management or similar (Essential)

Essential Competencies:

• Deciding and Initiating Action 
• Working with People 
• Relating and Networking 
• Persuading and Influencing 
• Presenting and Communicating Information 
• Analysing 
• Delivering Results & Meeting Customer Expectations
• Entrepreneurial and Commercial Thinking