We are looking for an experienced and strategic Category Manager with a strong background in Agriculture and extensive experience in the Agriculture industry. The candidate will be responsible for developing and managing product categories, driving category growth, identifying market opportunities, and building effective category strategies.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute category strategies to drive sales, profitability, and market growth.
- Conduct market research and analyze customer needs, industry trends, competitor activities, and product opportunities.
- Manage the complete category lifecycle, including product assortment, pricing, positioning, promotions, and performance.
- Identify new product opportunities based on farmer needs and market demand.
- Collaborate with Procurement, Sales, Marketing, Agronomy, Supply Chain, and Product teams.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors, manufacturers, and suppliers.
- Lead commercial negotiations related to pricing, margins, product availability, and promotional support.
- Monitor category performance, sales trends, profitability, inventory, and demand forecasting.
- Develop strategies to improve product visibility and category penetration across multiple sales channels.
- Track competitor products, pricing strategies, and new developments in the agriculture industry.
- Analyze farmer requirements and market insights to develop effective product offerings.
- Prepare regular MIS reports, category performance reports, and growth plans for management.
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Agri-Business, or a related field.
- 9+ years of overall experience, preferably in the Agriculture or Agri-input industry.
- Strong educational and professional background in Agriculture.
- Experience in Category Management, Product Management, Business Development, Procurement, or Commercial Strategy within the Agriculture industry.
- Strong knowledge of agricultural products such as:
- Crop Protection
- Fertilizers
- Plant Nutrition
- Seeds
- Bio-products
- Agricultural Inputs
- Strong understanding of farmer behavior, crop cycles, market trends, and agricultural practices.
- Excellent analytical, commercial, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work cross-functionally and drive category growth.
Preferred Industry Background
Candidates with experience in Agrochemical, AgriTech, Fertilizer, Seeds, Crop Protection, Plant Nutrition, or Agri-input companies will be preferred.
Key Competencies
- Category Strategy & Management
- Agricultural Market Knowledge
- Product Portfolio Management
- Market Research & Analysis
- Pricing & Margin Management
- Vendor & Stakeholder Management
- Negotiation Skills
- Strategic Thinking
- Data Analysis & Reporting
- Cross-functional Collaboration
Preferred Candidate: A seasoned agriculture professional with 9+ years of industry experience and a strong academic background in Agriculture, capable of independently driving category strategy, product portfolio growth, and commercial performance.
Pay: Up to ₹1,000,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
