Category Manager – Pet Food Nutrition

Somos un grupo empresarial 100% panameño, dedicado a actividades agro – industriales y comerciales, que por más de 70 años ha trabajado para contribuir al desarrollo con enfoque social y ambiental, garantizando estándares de calidad internacional. Guiados por los principios que nos caracterizan como la transparencia, calidad y responsabilidad social, estamos comprometidos en seguir trabajando de forma sostenible para lograr un impacto positivo en todas las comunidades donde operamos.

Consolidados en 8 unidades de negocio, Grupo Melo participa significativamente en la producción de alimentos. Nuestro Grupo de Alimentos pone en el mercado piensos, pollitos, pollos, gallinas, embutidos, y productos listos para cocinar y nuestro Grupo Comercial ofrece insumos agropecuarios, materiales de construcción, artículos y servicios para el cuidado de las mascotas y la jardinería, vehículos, maquinaria agrícola y de construcción, lotes campestres y restaurantes.

We are seeking a highly analytical and strategically minded Category Manager for Pet Food & Nutrition to oversee the growth, profitability, and market share of our pet food portfolio. In this role, you will take full ownership of the product lifecycle, optimize vendor relationships, and implement data-driven assortment strategies. The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in retail metrics, strong negotiation capabilities, and a proven track record of driving revenue within the consumer goods or retail sector.Key Responsibilities Strategic Category Management: Develop and execute comprehensive category business plans that align with corporate growth and margin objectives.

Vendor Management & Negotiation: Lead contract negotiations with national brands and private label suppliers to secure competitive cost structures, trade terms, and marketing support. Assortment Optimization: Analyze market share, consumer insights, and sales data to curate a high-performing product mix across dry, wet, premium, and specialized therapeutic diets. Financial Accountability: Manage P&L responsibilities for the category, establishing optimal pricing architectures and monitoring margin performance, price elasticity, and inventory turnover.

Promotional Strategy: Design and implement a data-backed promotional calendar, collaborating with Marketing to execute high-impact omni-channel campaigns. Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with Supply Chain to optimize inventory forecasting and fill rates, and collaborate with Store Operations/E-commerce to ensure seamless visual merchandising execution. Requisitos: Minimum of 4 to 6 years of experience in category management, retail merchandising, or FMCG brand management.

Experience within the pet care industry is highly preferred.Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related quantitative field.Analytical Skills: Advanced proficiency in retail mathematics, data analytics platforms, and inventory performance metrics (e.g., GMROI, sales per square foot).Core Competencies: Exceptional negotiation skills, a collaborative leadership style, and the ability to synthesize complex data into actionable business strategies.Language Proficiency: English C-1