Channel Manager (Food)

at  LOreal

ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WORLD OF BEAUTY AND DRIVEN BY SUCCESS IN A FAST-PACED RETAIL ENVIRONMENT? DO YOU THRIVE ON BUILDING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND EXCEEDING TARGETS? IF SO, L’ORÉAL SOUTH AFRICA HAS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU!

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Channel Manager (Food) to join our dynamic team in Woodmead, South Africa. In this role, you will be instrumental in driving the growth and success of our brands within the South African modern trade food retail landscape. You will lead a team of Key Account Managers, own the retailer partnership from strategy to execution, and be responsible for achieving ambitious sales and market share goals.

KEY JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Leadership & Team Management: Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Key Account Managers with varying levels of seniority. Foster a collaborative and results-oriented team environment.
• Strategic Partnership & Planning: Develop and nurture strong relationships with key decision-makers within assigned food retailers. Lead joint business planning initiatives, aligning on joint KPIs, and building a winning annual activation calendar.
• P&L Ownership: Take full ownership of the business and P&L for a designated portfolio of modern trade food retailers. Develop and execute data-driven strategies to maximize sales, profitability, and market share.
• Category Growth & Innovation: Collaborate closely with retailers and internal brand teams to build the total beauty category within the food retail space. Identify opportunities for innovation, optimize product assortment, and drive the visibility of key products and new launches.
• Negotiation & Investment Optimization: Lead retailer negotiations with strong commercial acumen. Manage trade investments strategically, ensuring sufficiency and maximizing ROI.
• Data Analysis & Performance Tracking: Utilize data analytics to track performance, identify trends, and generate actionable insights. Regularly monitor progress against targets and adjust strategies as needed to ensure success.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Marketing, or a related field is required.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in relevant industry roles as described above.

• Develop and execute joint business plans with clear objectives, timelines, and action steps.
• Analyse category and shopper data to identify growth opportunities and develop tailored strategies.
• Collaborate with marketing and sales teams to develop and implement impactful in-store activations and promotional campaigns.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders within the retailer organization, fostering trust and collaboration.
• Negotiate favourable trading terms, promotional agreements, and shelf space allocation.
• Manage budgets effectively, ensuring efficient use of resources and maximizing return on investment.
• Provide regular updates and reports to senior management on performance, key initiatives, and market trends.