Category And Portfolio Strategy Manager India

Job description:

Category & Portfolio Strategy Manager, India

Location: Mumbai 

Job Summary

This role is accountable for driving the operational execution, cross-functional coordination, and P&L performance of premix and related ingredient portfolios within the Asia-Pacific region. Key responsibilities include portfolio management, regulatory alignment, and the development of strategic plans and business initiatives to capture new market opportunities and deliver on company objectives.

During the initial phase, a significant portion of this role will be dedicated to identifying, standardizing, and aligning best practices across H&N premix manufacturing sites, with particular emphasis on coordination between the Ahmedabad and Suzhou facilities.

This position is integral to the successful start-up and onboarding of new business at the Ahmedabad plant, while also leading the development of new products and technologies to support the growth and sustainability of the AsPac portfolio. In addition, the role serves as a critical liaison among the commercial, R&D, operations, quality, and supply chain functions.

Essential Functions

• Understand, analyse and implement best practice systems and processes in Suzhou and in Ahmedabad plants and ensure smooth transition of knowledge and good implementation across R&D, Procurement, Commercial and Supply Chain.
• Partner with Procurement and R&D to identify and implement the most cost-effective ingredient sourcing strategy for the Ahmedabad plant, including supply options from India, China, and other relevant markets. Understand and establish kitting requirements of key customers to ensure profitable and sustainable service to these customers.
• Provide day to day leadership for the premix product lines in AsPac to ensure profitable growth and near-term profitability (P&L). Drive flawless execution and reliable product line performance by coordinating activities with functions including manufacturing, sales, marketing, technology, QA and supply chain. Consolidate and support the needs of the Commercial organization.
• Manage the development of all related projects and work in cross-functional teams to deliver on fast moving projects
• Develop and achieve sales growth through new concepts and creative marketing and management of the business portfolio. Eg. Understand the requirement for Functionally Optimized Nutrients (FONs) in the region and generate a plan to incorporate FONs sales into the AsPac sales portfolio to customers.
• Analyse opportunities to convert single-ingredient business to premix solutions and develop a value-selling approach—particularly for dietary supplement customers—to equip sales teams to drive customer conversion from singles to premix Support and train sales on new products with tools for gaining new markets/customers.
• Communicate actively with sales, operations, R&D, quality, supply chain and management teams to help hit goals.
• Develop and maintain presentations, brochures and other sales tools.
• Actively involved in development of product category strategy.
• Develop business cases for market potential for new concepts and technologies.
• Responsible for pricing policy, target setting and execution working with commercial team
• Understand the regulatory frameworks and steer product development in the appropriate direction.
• Understand the requirements for Ahmedabad plant to export to other markets eg in SE Asia, Mid East or Africa and ensure smooth export business startup.
• The “internal” sales person for the products
• Help identify new premix, single or FON opportunities
• Makes sure there are no miss matches with plant capabilities
• Works with finance to make sure costs/selling prices are appropriate
• Evaluate incoming projects and manage R & D development including project prioritization
• Balances project pipeline projections with potential capacity constraints
• Ensure day to day interface with the commercial organization

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate must possess excellent interpersonal communication and relationship building skills and an open mind to manage cross-functional teams
• Must possess a Bachelor’s Degree (Preferred Masters or MBA), preferably in a scientific background (Food Science, Nutrition Science)
• At least 5 yrs related experience with food ingredients, preferably with nutritional ingredients.
• Must be experienced in a business development, product management, or similar commercial / marketing role.
• Experience in IP management and strategic development and marketing in sports nutrition a definite plus.
• Must be fast and able to think quickly with a keen sense of commercial viability, organization skill and can-do attitude.  
• Must possess an analytical approach and be capable of detailed cost analyses & business planning with a strong business acumen
• Must possess the creativity needed to develop opportunities within sector and possess a keen commercial acumen and possess verifiable strategic planning and project management capability.
• Must have demonstrably strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to manage cross-functional teams.
• Must be able to work in a team environment and possess team-based problem solving skills.
• Must be results focused and oriented toward accomplishment of team goals

Travel Requirements

30-50%