About the position
ENVIRONMENT:
A leading School Supplies Provider is looking for a dynamic and driven Category - Office Furniture and Specialised Filing to join their Johannesburg team. This role involves strategically managing the product range, pricing, and supplier relationships to meet sales targets while maintaining optimal stock levels. A critical part of the role is working closely with the Head of Procurement to ensure correct stock availability that balances customer demand with inventory control. Furthermore, the manager collaborates closely with the Furniture Warehouse Manager to align stock delivery and installation schedules, ensuring seamless execution and customer satisfaction.
DUTIES:
- The Category Manager is accountable for the full category lifecycle, including supplier sourcing, product range development, pricing strategies, and margin management. Continuous monitoring of sales performance against budgets and forecasts allows for timely strategic adjustments to maximise trading profit.
- The manager plays a central role in training and upskilling sales teams on product knowledge, space planning, and sales techniques. Organising factory visits and working alongside marketing teams to develop promotional campaigns further supports category growth.
- Relationship management extends to key corporate customers, Company divisions, and external suppliers to foster loyalty and ensure excellent service delivery. Credit control responsibilities within the category safeguard the financial health of the business.
- An essential part of the role is maintaining close collaboration with the Head of Procurement to optimise stock levels and prevent both shortages and excess inventory. Simultaneously, the Category Manager partners with the Furniture Warehouse Manager to coordinate delivery and installation schedules, ensuring customer commitments are met efficiently.
- Leadership duties include monitoring team performance, managing conflicts, enforcing company policies, controlling budgets, and driving a culture of professionalism and customer focus. The manager actively pursues sales growth through target setting, promotions, and exploring new business opportunities.
REQUIREMENTS:
Skills Required
- Key skills include advanced active listening, persuasive written and verbal communication, reading comprehension, time management, and the ability to influence and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders.
Knowledge
- In-depth knowledge of customer service principles, sales and marketing strategies, and industry-specific trends related to office furniture and specialised filing products is essential to anticipate market shifts and customer needs.
Qualifications and Experience
- Candidates should bring at least 6 to 7 years of relevant experience in office furniture, specialised filing, or related sectors, with proven expertise in category management, supplier negotiation, and team leadership. A post-matric diploma or equivalent qualification is preferred.
ATTRIBUTES:
- The successful Category Manager will demonstrate strong leadership, strategic vision, excellent communication, and interpersonal skills.
- They must be resilient, proactive, and capable of managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
- Integrity, sound judgment, and a partnership-driven approach underpin effective category and team management.
While we would really like to respond to every application, should you not be contacted for this position within 10 working days please consider your application unsuccessful.
COMMENTS:
When applying for jobs, ensure that you have the minimum job requirements. Only SA Citizens will be considered for this role. If you are not in the mentioned location of any of the jobs, please note your relocation plans in all applications for jobs and correspondence. Apply here [URL Removed] e-mail a Word copy of your CV to [Email Address Removed] and mention the reference number of the job.
Desired Skills:
