Category Manager - Agriculture

About the Role

Katyayani Organics is seeking a highly skilled and strategic Category Manager with a robust background in agriculture and extensive industry experience. This full-time position based in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh requires leadership in shaping and managing product categories, fostering category expansion, spotting market potentials, and designing strong category strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulate and implement category strategies aimed at boosting sales, profitability, and market share.
• Perform market research and evaluate customer requirements, industry trends, competitors, and product opportunities.
• Oversee all stages of the category lifecycle including product selection, pricing, positioning, promotional activities, and performance tracking.
• Identify innovative product opportunities aligned with farmer needs and market demand.
• Work collaboratively with Procurement, Sales, Marketing, Agronomy, Supply Chain, and Product teams.
• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with vendors, manufacturers, and suppliers.
• Lead commercial negotiations on pricing, margins, product availability, and promotional support.
• Monitor key metrics like category sales, profitability, inventory levels, and demand forecasts.
• Develop plans to enhance product visibility and deepen category penetration across various sales channels.
• Keep track of competitor products, pricing tactics, and emerging trends within the agriculture sector.
• Interpret farmer requirements and market insights to craft impactful product offerings.
• Generate frequent MIS reports, category performance analyses, and growth plans for management review.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Agri-Business, or relevant disciplines.
• Minimum nine years of professional experience, ideally within the Agriculture or Agri-input sectors.
• Deep academic and practical knowledge in agriculture.
• Experience in roles such as Category Management, Product Management, Business Development, Procurement, or Commercial Strategy in agriculture-focused companies.
• Expertise in agricultural product categories including Crop Protection, Fertilizers, Plant Nutrition, Seeds, Bio-products, and related inputs.
• Solid understanding of farmer conduct, crop cycles, market dynamics, and farming practices.
• Strong abilities in analysis, negotiation, commercial acumen, and stakeholder engagement.
• Capability to work cross-functionally to advance category growth.

Preferred Background

Candidates with experience in agrochemicals, AgriTech, fertilizers, seeds, crop protection, plant nutrition, or agri-input firms are especially favored.

Key Competencies

• Strategic category planning and management
• In-depth agricultural market insight
• Management of product portfolios
• Market research and analysis skills
• Pricing and margin oversight
• Vendor and stakeholder relationship management
• Effective negotiation capabilities
• Strategic thinking and planning
• Data-driven analysis and reporting
• Cross-team collaboration and coordination

Preferred Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an agriculture professional with over nine years of industry expertise and strong academic credentials, who can autonomously lead category strategy, enhance product portfolios, and improve commercial outcomes.