Category Strategy & Commercial Planning Manager

Role Overview

We’re looking for a proactive, forward thinking Category Strategy & Commercial Planning Manager ANZ to join our ambitious team working on Nicabate and Habitrol – key brands in our ANZ Consumer Healthcare portfolio.

Drive end-to-end commercial performance across ANZ, combining category insights, commercial modelling, forecasting & delivery and retailer strategy to unlock sustainable growth.

This is a pivotal role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and wants to make a real impact on these growing brands with big ambitions.

 

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Retailer Engagement

• Translate market, shopper and customer data into actionable category strategies
• Lead strategic input into:
• Range reviews
• Assortment optimisation, layout & planogram recommendations
• Pricing & promotional strategies
• Develop category-led selling stories to influence retailer decisions
• Build data packs, insights and lead recommendations for Joint Business Planning and line reviews
• Maintain accurate range and core line information
• Partner with Sales to shift conversations from brand sell → category growth leadership

Revenue Growth Management

• Deliver actionable insights on pricing, promotions, sales trends, and trade performance.
• Drive optimisation of:
• Pricing architecture
• Promotional mechanics
• Product mix and trade investment
• Evaluate initiatives using ROI and sensitivity modelling
• Identify structural growth levers across channels and customers

Commercial Modelling & Performance Management

• Support delivery of sales targets across ANZ through close tracking of performance by customer, SKU, and channel
• Monitor weekly/monthly sales performance and highlight risks, gaps, and opportunities
• Track and support delivery of agreed customer plans, ensuring actions are executed on time and commitments are met
• Work with distributor teams to ensure timely and accurate reporting of sales data and work with finance team to ensure accurate reporting alignment
• Support development and execution of customer-specific plans and promotions
• Build robust models for:
• NPD launches
• Promotional investment
• Channel/customer expansion
• Track key KPIs:
• Revenue, NSV, GP, market share, promo ROI
• Deliver clear performance narratives and corrective actions

S&OP / Demand Planning Integration

• Contribute to monthly demand and S&OP processes improving; Forecast accuracy; Inventory health; Service levels
• Lead scenario planning across supply constraints and demand shifts

Data & Analytics Leadership

• Integrate data sources (scan, shopper, retailer, internal systems) into a single source of truth and leverage tools for advanced insights
• Build and maintain reporting dashboards to support sales cadence, internal reporting requirements & customer priorities
• Provide analytical support and leadership for wider reporting, and ad hoc projects; ad hoc project management as and when required
• Champion data governance, accuracy and scalability of reporting

Stakeholder Influence & Communication

• Deliver executive ready presentations & business cases
• Translate complex analysis into clear commercial recommendations
• Influence cross functional stakeholders across local and international teams
• Confidently challenge assumptions and shape decisions

Required Experience & Skills

Essential

• 8+ years’ experience in Category, Commercial Planning, Revenue Management or Insights roles within FMCG, Pharmacy, or Consumer Healthcare.
• Strong experience working with Scan / Market data (e.g. IQVIA, Circana, Quantium)
• Strong financial acumen (P&L, margin, ROI, forecasting)
• Exposure to S&OP / IBP processes
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills; ability to build clear, persuasive insight stories
• Excellent analytical capability with attention to detail and commercial curiosity
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders

Desirable

• Sales/Account Management experience
• Experience in Pharmacy / OTC / Health related categories.
• Exposure to planograms or space management tools.
• Power BI or similar visualisation tools.

Personal Attributes

• Commercially minded and solutions-focused.
• Collaborative and agile – thrives in a small, fast-moving team with big goals.
• Confident working autonomously while collaborating closely with cross functional stakeholders.
• Pragmatic, hands-on and willing to “roll up sleeves”.
• Curious about shopper behaviour and what truly drives category growth

What We Offer

• A high-impact commercial leadership role.
• Opportunity to build and shape the Consumer Health organisation.
• Entrepreneurial culture with global visibility.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• Hybrid working environment.t
• Career acceleration in a rapidly growing business.
• Melbourne-based role with ANZ market exposure and global team engagement