Senior Category Manager

Our client is a leading FMCG manufacturer in the food category with a strong and growing presence across the region. They are seeking to hire a Senior Category Manager who will lead the commercial performance and strategic development of several product categories within the portfolio for the GCC markets. The role reports directly to the Sales and Marketing Director and is based in Muscat, Oman.

This is a key leadership role responsible for driving disciplined growth, improving category profitability, and building scalable category strategies. The successful candidate will oversee category performance, while also managing a team across business development and trade marketing. The position offers the opportunity to shape category strategy, influence pricing and promotion discipline, and play a central role in the expansion of new product categories.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and execute category strategies to drive sustainable growth and profitability

• Classify and prioritize categories into core, emerging, and opportunistic segments

• Review SKU performance and rationalize the portfolio to improve productivity and reduce complexity

• Establish pricing corridors across categories and markets to protect margins

• Lead trade spend governance and ensure disciplined promotional investment

• Evaluate promotion effectiveness and drive improvements in promotion ROI

• Lead go-to-market planning and execution for new product launches and emerging categories

• Work closely with Sales Managers and distributors to align on category priorities and commercial plans

• Provide regular performance reporting and strategic recommendations to senior leadership

• Lead and develop a team across business development and trade marketing functions

Candidate Requirements:

• 7–12 years of experience in FMCG, ideally within food categories

• Exposure in marketing across key GCC markets

• Proven experience in category management, commercial strategy, or business development

• Strong commercial and financial acumen with the ability to balance growth and margin discipline

• Experience managing trade spend, promotions, and distributor relationships

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams including business development and trade marketing

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capability

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills

• Willingness to be based in Oman