Category Manager: Foods (Category Manager) at Oceana Group Limited

Role Purpose:

• The Category Manager: Foods role will be a key enabler in delivering the company’s growth strategy outside of canned fish, driving revenue growth, and successfully diversifying our portfolio across other foods categories within a competitive market.
• This role is required to build a diverse product portfolio in line with the company strategy, nurture client relationships, and execute innovative sales initiatives in order to deliver on the long-term strategic vision.

Key Responsibilities:

Sales Strategy Development and Execution:

• Formulate, implement, and continuously enhance a comprehensive national sales strategy for the categories outside of canned fish in order to achieve and exceed annual revenue and market share objectives.
• Work collaboratively with the Divisional Sales Managers to align sales initiatives with overall business goals and marketing campaigns.
• Identify new business opportunities, emerging market trends, and potential risks, translating insights into actionable sales plans.

Key Account Management:

• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with key national accounts, retail partners, and distributors.
• Negotiate commercial terms, resolve escalated issues, and identify joint value-creation opportunities with strategic partners.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality customer service and establish Lucky Star as a preferred partner in the respective new food categories entered into.

Sales Operations and Reporting:

• Oversee sales forecasting, budgeting, pipeline management, and resource allocation of the categories outside of canned fish in order to maximize efficiency and ensure successful market entry.
• Implement and manage robust sales processes, tools, and CRM systems to drive data-driven decisions and accountability.
• Deliver accurate, timely sales reports and insights to the Executive: Marketing and Sales highlighting successes, challenges, and strategic recommendations.

Collaboration and Cross-functional Leadership:

• Act as the voice of the sales team within the broader organisation, collaborating closely with marketing, supply chain, finance, and product development teams across all the food categories outside of canned fish.
• Partner with marketing to design and execute impactful go-to-market campaigns, promotional activities, and product launches that drive sales growth.
• Champion a customer-centric approach throughout the organisation, ensuring that feedback from the field shapes business and product development priorities.

Market Intelligence and Competitive Analysis:

• Stay abreast of industry trends, competitor activities, and market dynamics to ensure successful new category entries.
• Gather and synthesize market intelligence, providing thought leadership and strategic input to senior management regarding product positioning and new market entry.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure adherence to all relevant legal, regulatory, and ethical standards in all sales activities and client engagements.
• Identify and mitigate potential risks to the organization’s reputation, financial performance, and client relationships.

Category & Team Leadership

• Define clear sales targets for all categories outside of canned fish, direct and monitor team performance and implement corrective actions where necessary to ensure targets are met.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

• Strong analytical skills, with experience in sales forecasting, budgeting, and CRM systems.
• Sound commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the South African consumer and retail landscape.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; proficiency in other official South African languages is an asset.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel nationally as required.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Leadership and team management experience.
• Ability to multitask and prioritise tasks effectively.
• Above Average verbal and numerical skills

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales Management, or a related field (Hons preferred).
• 8 -10 Years experience progressive experience in sales, with at least 5 years in a senior/national management role, ideally with the FMCG sector.
• Proven track record of delivering sustained sales growth and managing high-performance teams across multiple regions.
• Expertise in key account management, strategic negotiation, and stakeholder engagement at a senior level.

Behavioural Competencies

• Decision making and judgement
• Relationship building and negotiation
• People Management and Leadership
• Teamwork

Closing date

• 19 Oct 2025