# Competences — category manager

Source: ESCO v1.2.1 occupation-skill relations (http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/dab60fc6-c16e-4de7-b969-b323784f5a49).

## Essential

- **align efforts towards business development** (skill/competence)
- **analyse consumer buying trends** (skill/competence)
- **analyse customer service surveys** (skill/competence)
- **analyse external factors of companies** (skill/competence)
- **analyse internal factors of companies** (skill/competence)
- **analyse work-related written reports** (skill/competence)
- **apply strategic thinking** (skill/competence)
- **channel marketing** (knowledge)
- **collaborate in the development of marketing strategies** (skill/competence)
- **company policies** (knowledge)
- **conflict management** (knowledge)
- **consumer goods industry** (knowledge)
- **content marketing strategy** (knowledge)
- **coordinate marketing plan actions** (skill/competence)
- **corporate social responsibility** (knowledge)
- **cost management** (knowledge)
- **create annual marketing budget** (skill/competence)
- **define measurable marketing objectives** (skill/competence)
- **develop product design** (skill/competence)
- **ensure client orientation** (skill/competence)
- **evaluate marketing content** (skill/competence)
- **identify potential markets for companies** (skill/competence)
- **identify suppliers** (skill/competence)
- **impart business plans to collaborators** (skill/competence)
- **integrate marketing strategies with the global strategy** (skill/competence)
- **integrate strategic foundation in daily performance** (skill/competence)
- **maintain relationship with suppliers** (skill/competence)
- **manage budgets** (skill/competence)
- **manage inventory** (skill/competence)
- **manage profitability** (skill/competence)
- **market participants** (knowledge)
- **market pricing** (knowledge)
- **market research** (knowledge)
- **marketing mix** (knowledge)
- **negotiate sales contracts** (skill/competence)
- **perform market research** (skill/competence)
- **perform multiple tasks at the same time** (skill/competence)
- **perform product planning** (skill/competence)
- **perform project management** (skill/competence)
- **perform risk analysis** (skill/competence)
- **plan marketing campaigns** (skill/competence)
- **plan marketing strategy** (skill/competence)
- **pricing strategies** (knowledge)
- **select optimal distribution channel** (skill/competence)
- **store design layout** (knowledge)
- **study sales levels of products** (skill/competence)
- **track key performance indicators** (skill/competence)

## Optional

- abide by business ethical code of conducts (skill/competence)
- brand marketing techniques (knowledge)
- communication principles (knowledge)
- create solutions to problems (skill/competence)
- develop professional network (skill/competence)
- employment law (knowledge)
- ensure cross-department cooperation (skill/competence)
- inspect data (skill/competence)
- report accounts of the professional activity (skill/competence)
- teamwork principles (knowledge)
- use different communication channels (skill/competence)

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## Market evidence (job-ad analysis, 58 ads, as of 2026-07-10)

Share of analyzed job ads mentioning the item (threshold ≥ 20 %). Source: JSearch/Adzuna APIs.

### Hard skills

- category management — **60 %**
- data analysis — **59 %**
- contract negotiation — **36 %**
- strategic sourcing — **26 %**
- negotiation — **22 %**

### Responsibilities

- supplier relationship management — **22 %**
- category strategy development — **21 %**

<!-- market-evidence -->