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ESCO occupation

category manager

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Category managers define the sales programme for specific product groups. They research market demands and newly supplied products.

1221.3.2.1.1 ISCO 1221 ESCO source
Competences
58
Groups
4
Essential
47
Optional
11

Competences and skills

58 ESCO relations
Essential knowledge 13 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

5 competences
company policies

The set of rules that govern the activity of a company.

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corporate social responsibility

The handling or managing of business processes in a responsible and ethical manner considering the economic responsibility towards shareholders as equally important as the responsibility towards environmental and social stakeholders.

green
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cost management

The process of planning, monitoring and adjusting the expenses and revenues of a business in order to achieve cost efficiency and capability.

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market pricing

Price volatility according to market and price elasticity, and the factors which influence pricing trends and changes in the market in the long and short term.

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store design layout

Fundamentals in layout and store design in order to achieve an optimal product placement.

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Cross-sector

8 competences
channel marketing

The strategies and practices, including channel sales, that involve distributing products directly and indirectly through partners in order to bring the products to the end consumer.

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conflict management

The practices concerning the resolution of conflicts or disputes in an organisation or institution. It encompasses reducing the negative aspects of a conflict and increasing the positive outcomes of it by learning from the errors made.

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consumer goods industry

The consumer goods industry refers to a concrete economic sector that produce and sell goods to consumers for they direct consumption, enjoyment or use. Industry that covers a wide range of activities whose target is the final consumption of products by households. It includes food production, clothing and leather, electronics, and household equipment, among other sectors.

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content marketing strategy

The process of creation and share of media and publishing content in order to acquire customers.

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market participants

The businesses, relations and opportunities of different participants in the market.

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market research

The processes, techniques, and purposes comprised in the first step for developing marketing strategies such as the collection of information about customers and the definition of segments and targets.

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marketing mix

Principle of marketing that describes the four fundamental elements in marketing strategies which are the product, the place, the price and the promotion.

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pricing strategies

The techniques, theories, and commonly accepted strategies regarding pricing of goods. The relation between pricing strategies and outcomes in the market such as profitability maximisation, deterrence of newcomers, or increase of market share.

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Essential skills and competences 34 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

5 competences
develop product design

Convert market requirements into product design and development.

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maintain relationship with suppliers

Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.

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manage inventory

Control product inventory in balance of availability and storage costs.

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negotiate sales contracts

Come to an agreement between commercial partners with a focus on terms and conditions, specifications, delivery time, price etc.

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perform product planning

Identify and articulate market requirements that define a product’s feature set. Product planning serves as the basis for decisions about price, distribution and promotion.

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Cross-sector

29 competences
align efforts towards business development

Synchronise the efforts, plans, strategies, and actions carried out in departments of companies towards the growth of business and its turnover. Keep business development as the ultimate outcome of any effort of the company.

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analyse consumer buying trends

Analyse buying habits or currently prevalent customer behaviour.

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analyse customer service surveys

Analyse results from surveys completed by passengers/customer. Analyse results to identify trends and draw conclusions.

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analyse external factors of companies

Perform research and analysis of the external factor pertaining to companies such as consumers, position in the market, competitors, and political situation.

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analyse internal factors of companies

Research and understand various internal factors that influence the operation of companies such as its culture, strategic foundation, products, prices, and available resources.

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analyse work-related written reports

Read and comprehend job-related reports, analyse the content of reports and apply findings to daily work operations.

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apply strategic thinking

Apply generation and effective application of business insights and possible opportunities, in order to achieve competitive business advantage on a long-term basis.

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collaborate in the development of marketing strategies

Work together with a group of professionals to develop marketing strategies performing market analysis and financial viability while staying aligned with the company's goals.

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coordinate marketing plan actions

Manage the overview of the marketing actions such as the marketing planning, internal financial resource granting, advertising materials, implementation, control, and communication efforts.

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create annual marketing budget

Make the calculation of both the income and expenditures that are expected to be paid over the coming year concerning the marketing related activities such as advertising, selling and delivering products to people.

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define measurable marketing objectives

Outline the measurable performance indicators of the marketing plan such as market share, customer value, brand awareness, and sales revenues. Follow up on the progress of these indicators during the development of the marketing plan.

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ensure client orientation

Take actions which support business activities by considering client needs and satisfaction. This involves understanding what customers want, providing advices, selling products and services or processing complaints, while adopting a positive attitude.

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evaluate marketing content

Revise, assess, align, and approves marketing material and content defined in the marketing plan. Evaluate written word, images, print or video advertisements, public speeches, and statements in accordance with the marketing objectives.

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identify potential markets for companies

Observe and analyse market research findings in order to determine promising and profitable markets. Consider the firm's specific advantage and match it with markets where such value proposition is missing.

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identify suppliers

Determine potential suppliers for further negotiation. Take into consideration aspects such as product quality, sustainability, local sourcing, seasonality and coverage of the area. Evaluate the likelihood of obtaining beneficial contracts and agreements with them.

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impart business plans to collaborators

Diffuse, present, and communicate business plans and strategies to managers, employees making sure that objectives, actions, and important messages are properly conveyed.

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integrate marketing strategies with the global strategy

Integrate the marketing strategy and its elements such as the market definition, competitors, price strategy, and communication with the general guidelines of the global strategy of the company.

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integrate strategic foundation in daily performance

Reflect on the strategic foundation of companies, meaning their mission, vision, and values in order to integrate this foundation in the performance of the job position.

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manage budgets

Plan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.

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manage profitability

Regularly review sales and profit performance.

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perform market research

Gather, assess and represent data about target market and customers in order to facilitate strategic development and feasibility studies. Identify market trends.

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perform multiple tasks at the same time

Execute multiple tasks at the same time, being aware of key priorities.

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perform project management

Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project's progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.

research
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perform risk analysis

Identify and assess factors that may jeopardise the success of a project or threaten the organisation's functioning. Implement procedures to avoid or minimise their impact.

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plan marketing campaigns

Develop a method to promote a product through different channels, such as television, radio, print and online platforms, social media with the aim to communicate and deliver value to customers.

digital
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plan marketing strategy

Determine the objective of the marketing strategy whether it is for establishing image, implementing a pricing strategy, or raising awareness of the product. Establish approaches of marketing actions to ensure that goals are achieved efficiently and over a long term.

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select optimal distribution channel

Choose the best possible distribution channel for the customer.

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study sales levels of products

Collect and analyse sales levels of products and services in order to use this information for determining the quantities to be produced in the following batches, customer feedback, price trends, and the efficiency of sales methods.

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track key performance indicators

Identify the quantifiable measures that a company or industry uses to gauge or compare performance in terms of meeting their operational and strategic goals, using preset performance indicators.

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Optional knowledge 4 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Cross-sector

4 competences
brand marketing techniques

The methods and systems used in researching and establishing a brand identity for marketing purposes.

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communication principles

The set of commonly shared principles in regards with communication such as active listening, establish rapport, adjusting the register, and respecting the intervention of others.

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employment law

The law which mediates the relationship between employees and employers. It concerns employees' rights at work which are binding by the work contract.

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teamwork principles

The cooperation between people characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, participating equally, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective usage of ideas etc.

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Optional skills and competences 7 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

2 competences
abide by business ethical code of conducts

Conform and follow the ethical code of conducts promoted by companies and businesses at large. Ensure that operations and activities do comply with the code of conduct and ethical operations the supply chain throughout.

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report accounts of the professional activity

Recount events and facts which happened in professional contexts.

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Cross-sector

5 competences
create solutions to problems

Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.

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develop professional network

Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.

Scope note
This includes the development of social relationships with patients and customers.
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ensure cross-department cooperation

Guarantee communication and cooperation with all the entities and teams in a given organisation, according to the company strategy.

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inspect data

Analyse, transform and model data in order to discover useful information and to support decision-making.

digital
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use different communication channels

Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

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