Category & Commercial Strategic Planning Lead

Category & Commercial Strategic Planning Lead page is loaded

Category & Commercial Strategic Planning Lead

Postuler locations Unihome Malaysia Office time type temps plein posted on Offre publiée il y a 4 jours time left to apply Date de fin : 26 août 2025 (Il reste 7 jour(s) pour postuler) job requisition id R-98894

Job Title : Category & Commercial Strategic Planning Lead

Location : Malaysia

The Ice Cream division at Unilever is preparing to stand on its own, aiming to becom e an independent , EUR 8.3 billion publicly listed company by the end of 2025 . We’re on a mission to create the ultimate snacking company. A place where growth, innovation, founder and ownership mentality, and performance are cultivated and rewarded. And where we craft extraordinary ice cream experiences - transforming ordinary moments into lasting memories. Because we know, life tastes better with ice cream.

ABOUT THE MAGNUM ICE CREAM COMPANY :

The Magnum Ice Cream Company is all about growth. Growing our business. Growing our customers’ businesses. Growing our people’s careers. Growth begins with empowerment. So we free our people to be innovative, responsible entrepreneurs, driven and equipped to give our consumers more amazing products and unforgettable moments – and having fun doing it.

With 19.000 expert ice cream colleagues and iconic brands like Wall’s, Cornetto and Ben & Jerry’s, loved in 76 countries, we are the world’s largest Ice Cream company leading the industry. We have been taking pleasure seriously for more than 100 years, serving happiness with every lick or scoop of ice cream for generations.

We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of The Magnum Ice Cream Company as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen before the end of 2025.

We dream big but keep things simple to act fast.

If you want to grow with us, make an impact, and shape the future of Ice Cream , this is the place for you!

JOB PURPOSE :

The Category & Commercial Strategic Planning Head is the strategic engine for the category, driving growth by linking brand strategy with commercial execution. You will be the expert on your category's market dynamics, competitive landscape, and price & promotional effectiveness. This role involves leading the integrated business planning cycle, shaping demand forecasts, developing winning go-to-market strategies, and managing the trade investment budget to deliver on both top-line sales and bottom-line profitability. You will work in a highly cross-functional environment, collaborating closely with Brand, Finance, Supply Chain, and Customer Development teams to ensure flawless planning and execution. By championing a high-performance culture, you will develop a team of strategic thinkers and commercial experts to secure our long-term success.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES :

Strategic Planning & Commercial Leadership

Lead the annual Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process by conducting comprehensive 6P analyses to identify key category insights and opportunities.

Develop the annual Category Development plan, translating brand objectives into a clear commercial strategy and execution roadmap.

Spearhead the development of Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with key retail partners to drive mutual growth.

Prepare and deliver compelling presentations for key business processes, including quarterly cascades to the Customer Development (Sales) team and strategic alignment meetings with leadership .

Demand Forecasting & Financial Management

Drive the demand planning process by developing forward forecasts based on primary / secondary sales data and Nielsen market trends.

Provide robust analysis and justification for promotional uplifts, ensuring accurate baseline forecasting in partnership with the Demand Planning team.

Lead the development of Business Cases (BCs) for all trade activities, providing critical inputs on incremental sales ( iGSV ) and trade spend ( iTTS ) based on price elasticity and ROI analysis.

Manage the category's Trade Term Spend (TTS) budget, ensuring expenditure is aligned with the strategy and delivering maximum return on investment.

Go-to-Market & New Product Launch Excellence

Architect the 360-degree launch plan for all New Product Development (NPD), from initial volume forecasting to post-launch tracking.

Develop comprehensive promotion strategies, channel-exclusive mechanics, and point-of-sale activation plans, ensuring alignment with above-the-line media.

Manage the end-to-end process for promotional & brand activation support

Proactively manage the NPD listing process with Customer Business Development team , developing contingency plans to overcome any retailer objections.

Market Intelligence & Performance Analysis

Serve as the category expert on competitor activity, utilizing Nielsen data and market intelligence to track and analyze competitor promotions, pricing, and market share.

Deliver monthly analysis on sales performance (GSV), providing clear commentary on drivers of over or under-performance against the forecast.

Monitor the strategic price index and be agile to design response plans to maintain competitiveness and defend market share.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of customer strate gic planning managers, fostering excellence in brand management and commercial planning.

Recruit and nurture talent, building a future-fit organization through effective coaching, performance management, and career development.

Cultivate a culture of high performance and engagement, inspiring the team to deliver exceptional business results.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED :

SKILLS :

Technical & Analytical Capabilities

Data Analysis : Strong analytical skills with a proven ability to interpret market data , internal sales data (primary / secondary), and shopper insights to make informed recommendations.

Financial Acumen : Solid commercial understanding with experience in budget management (specifically trade spend / TTS), business case development, pricing analysis, and understanding a product's P&L

Demand Forecasting : Proficiency in the fundamentals of sales forecasting and demand planning, including understanding base sales and promotional uplifts.

Advanced Excel : Essential proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, v-lookups, charting, and building complex formulas for data analysis

Presentation Skills : Strong ability to use Microsoft PowerPoint to synthesize complex information into clear, persuasive, and professional presentations for various audiences.

Core Competencies

Strategic Thinking : The ability to see the bigger picture, connect disparate data points, and translate insights into actionable, long-term category and channel strategies.

Stakeholder Management & Influence : Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills. A proven ability to work with and influence diverse teams, including Brand, Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain, to achieve common goals.

Communication : Superior verbal and written communication skills. Must be able to articulate complex ideas clearly, justify recommendations logically, and present confidently to both internal leadership and external retail partners.

Project Management : Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously—from new product launches to promotional campaigns—while adhering to strict timelines.

Problem-Solving : A proactive and results-oriented mindset with the ability to identify potential issues, analyze root causes, and develop effective solutions independently.

EXP E RI E NCE S & QUALIFICATIONS :

Bachelor’s Degree in Business , Marketing, Finance, or related field

A minimum of 8-10 years of relevant experience in the FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) industry is essential.

Proven experience in Trade Marketing / Category Management / Customer / Channel Development / Sales or Key Account Management / Brand Management with strong commercial exposure

W HAT YOU CAN EXPECT :

A unique mix of global scale & start-up spirit—€ 8.3 bn powerhouse with an agile, entrepreneurial mindset. We’re building a new high growth Ice Cream company from the ground up.

Career without limits—42 markets, international opportunities, and fast tracked growth.

A performance-driven culture—Freedom to act, disrupt and grow – your success is measured by impact.

A company that celebrates joy, innovation, and purpose—We create extraordinary careers, just like our ice cream creates extraordinary moments.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

As publicly announced , Unilever will separate its Ice Cream business which is e xpected by the end of 2025. T his role will transfer to the new Ice Cream company.

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life . This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity .

For the recruitment of this position, we would like to emphasize that local conditions apply to the position

ARE YOU EXCITED TO CRAFT THE ICE CREAM FUTURE?

To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV and a motivation letter. Your application will be reviewed against our requirements, and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.

Disclaimer

Equal Opportunity Employer : Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

We take pleasure seriously. Join the Ice Cream team now!

En tant qu'employeur responsable et inclusif, Unilever est attentif à la diversité et à la mixité de ses équipes. Nos recruteurs sont engagés et veillent à l'application de processus de recrutement non-discriminants.

Tous nos postes sont ouverts aux personnes en situation de handicap et Unilever accompagne ses collaborateurs dans la mise en place d'éventuels aménagements de poste et de dispositifs d'accessibilité.

#J-18808-Ljbffr