Category Coordinator

Job Purpose
Category Coordinators support the efficient functioning of the category management process. Working closely with Category Managers and cross-functional teams, the role assist in the execution of sourcing strategies, procurement activities, and supplier relationships. This involves maintaining accurate records, facilitating communication, and coordinating logistics to ensure the seamless flow of products or services within the designated category.

Job Context & Major Challenges
UltraTech Building Solutions format with larger product portfolio and services is better placed to cater to home builders by maximizing mindshare and wallet share to position itself as the leader in Building Solution space. Objective also is to enable retention and expansion of quality retail network and increase retail sales. The business has aggressive plans to expand and evolve this format by enlarging product and service offerings at the outlets. The plans envisage a total footprint of 6000+ stores with retail cement business of 16% of total UltraTech trade sales and 3000 Cr of non-cement sales by FY 26.

The landscape for building solutions is changing rapidly with customer expectations of trust, convenience, and expertise all at one place for building his dream home. UBS channel has 15+ categories with 65 brands spread across 13000 SKU's spread across 4000 stores. With every 100 Kms the landscape changing in the country there are plethora of local brands, categories available at multiple price points to cater to the local needs.

The larger objective for the channel is the ensure capturing the maximum share of wallet for an IHB from the store and for that effective sourcing, display and selling capabilities are required to built across every single store. The categories defined in the channel are under three major Umbrellas – UTCL Brands, Birla paints, and Birla pivot platform. There is a large opportunity which lies ahead to ensure the entire portfolio of brands & categories available are onboarded to the dealer store.

There are multiple hyperlocal distributors and OEM present in the country from where a local dealer can source his needs for the customers. The task at hand is to bring maximum possible onboarding of these business opportunities on the UBS platform to offer a wide bouquet of products to the channel. There are finer and very critical nuances on the pricing front basis which the decisions are made on ground and high level of coordination and process control are required to ensure process offered by UBS are competitive in the market.

Major Challenges Are

• Collation of data from various sources.
• Continuous maintenance and updation of store parameters like various product codes/geographies/associated UBS team members, accurate sales figures, etc.
• Managing the large base of SKUs across categories.
• Large number of queries related to pricing or B2B portal to be resolved in short time span particularly during month end.
• Sharing and confirming monthly sales with multiple vendors and calculation of TODs basis confirmation of sales numbers.
• Commercial reconciliations between UltraTech and brand teams.
• Accurate maintenance of the DVCM mapping.
• Streamlining back-end processes to facilitate category sales, in collaboration with multiple stakeholders (Platform & commercial team, Allied brand teams, IT/Digital team).

Key Result Areas
KRA (Accountabilities) (Max 1325 Characters)
Supporting Actions (Max 1325 Characters)
KRA1 Margins and CN Settlement

• Ensuring timely credit of TODs to UltraTech and resolving any discrepancies.
• Sharing working on CDs and CNs with Vendor and UTCL commercial team for timely punching of CN in dealer's account.
• Reconciliation of account with vendors as per prescribed SOP.

KRA2 Data Analytics

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date data related to suppliers, products, and contracts within the category.
• Assist in data analysis to provide insights and support decision-making processes.

KRA3 Issue Resolution & Process Improvement

• Address and resolve day-to-day operational issues within the category promptly with escalation of complex issues to Category Managers or relevant stakeholders for timely resolution.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement within the category management workflow.
• Collaborate with the team to implement efficiency enhancements and best practices.

KRA4 Category communications & Admin support

• Efficiently manage administrative tasks related to the category, including documentation, filing, and record keeping.
• Assist in the creation and maintenance of reports, presentations, and other relevant materials.
• Facilitate effective communication between Category Managers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and information flow.

KRA5 Supplier Management Support

• Monitoring supplier performance and adherence to contractual agreements.
• Collaborate with Category Managers to build and maintain positive relationships with suppliers.
• Coordinate logistics and inventory management activities to ensure timely and efficient product availability.
• Interaction with Vendor SPOC for maintenace of product, price and discount master on portal at regular interval.
• Maintaining DVCM on portal.
• Documentation and follow up for vendor payments with zonal/regional commercial teams/UKSC.