Category Manager Junior - Football & Motorsports

Supports the translation of category priorities into strong local execution across channels for the Football and Motorsports categories. It takes ownership of key operational and in-season activities, helping ensure products arrive on time, are available for activation and are successfully launched in the market. Working closely with commercial, marketing and supply teams, the position monitors category performance, coordinates product and launch processes, and proactively identifies risks and opportunities.

• Take ownership of key in-season processes for the Football and Motorsports categories, ensuring effective coordination and follow-up from planning through execution.
• Monitor sales, sell-out, stock, forecasts and product availability, identifying risks and opportunities and translating data into clear recommendations.
• Follow up on product readiness during the weeks leading up to each launch, confirming that products arrive on time, are available in the required channels and are ready for activation.
• Coordinate launch calendars and operational timelines, proactively communicating changes, risks, required actions, owners and deadlines.
• Work closely with Retail, Wholesale and eCommerce teams to coordinate category execution and respond to in-season business needs, supporting in-season trading activities such as stock movements across channels, inventory optimisation and actions to improve product availability and sell-through.
• Coordinate with Demand Planning, Product Supply and commercial teams on forecasts, presales, demand reviews and stock requirements.
• Support the operational management of local Football clubs, including local product creation, product codes, printing and customisation processes, subcontracting, stock availability and launches.
• Coordinate operational requirements with external suppliers, the Distribution Centre and internal teams, and follow products through the complete local creation process, including system setup, purchasing coordination, product delivery, supplier shipment and payment follow-up
• Ensuring delivery according to agreed timelines and standards.
• Support the execution of major football moments, such as international tournaments, important club milestones, key matches and priority product launches, and coordinate samples, packaging
• Digital product materials and other operational requirements needed to deliver campaigns and launches effectively.
• Prepare regular category updates and reports, maintaining clear visibility of business performance, open actions and potential execution risks, use Excel, Power BI and internal systems to organise information, analyse category performance and support business decisions
• And proactively manage day-to-day challenges by proposing practical solutions and escalating issues with clear context when necessary.

• University degree or equivalent education in Business, Commercial Engineering, Marketing, Industrial Engineering or a related field.
• 2+ years of professional or internship experience in category management, commercial operations, demand planning, sales, merchandising, marketing, retail or a related area.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to understand sales, sell-out, stock, forecast, demand and margin information and translate it into clear actions or recommendations.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Strong organisational and follow-up skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple activities, stakeholders and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proactive and hands-on approach, with the initiative to identify risks early, propose solutions and follow actions through to completion.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across commercial, marketing and supply teams.
• Attention to detail and interest in operational execution, including product availability, launches, inventory and supplier coordination.
• Genuine knowledge of and passion for Football, including an understanding of the relevance of major football moments, local clubs and key cultural symbols for consumers.

• Experience using Power BI or similar data visualisation tools is highly valued.
• Previous exposure to sporting goods, retail, wholesale, product launches, forecasting, local product creation or subcontracting processes is a plus.
• English proficiency is desirable and will support future development and interaction with regional and global teams.

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