Category Manager

Job Description – Category Manager (Agri Background)
Job Title: Category Manager – Agriculture
Location: Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Department: Category Management / Product
Experience: 9+ Years
Employment Type: Full-time
About the Role
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.

Work arrangement
No