Head of Business & Category Development

A strategic planner with strong short- and long-term business planning skills. Responsible for identifying and capturing new business and market opportunities to accelerate growth, increase revenue, and improve profitability across both OEM and OBM business models.

Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, the ability to manage multiple projects, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment are essential.

Responsibilities

1. New Business Development

• Identify market entry opportunities and develop go-to-market strategies for new regions and channels. Maintain full visibility of the sales pipeline at every stage.
• Develop sales and distribution strategies to maximize business opportunities.
• Generate OEM leads and new business inquiries.
• Develop business strategies to acquire new customers and retain existing customers.
• Monitor project profitability and business performance. Recommend suitable pricing strategies and product portfolios to improve market success.
• Develop and execute business plans to achieve the company's short-term and long-term goals.

2. OEM & Portfolio Development

• Work closely with Portfolio Owners to develop category strategies and product roadmaps. Identify market gaps and new growth opportunities.
• Define target consumers, market segmentation, product positioning, and key product benefits.
• Prioritize the new product development pipeline. Lead end-to-end commercialization from product concept to market launch.
• Provide commercial and financial direction to Business Unit Heads and Portfolio Owners.
• Identify and evaluate OEM partners. Develop supplier capabilities and benchmark supplier technology and innovation. Ensure long-term supply competitiveness.
• Review product quality performance and customer complaints. Identify product improvement and portfolio expansion opportunities.

3. Strategic Materials Sourcing & Collaboration

• Lead sourcing strategies to develop cost-effective procurement solutions and optimize the supplier network.
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard qualified suppliers to improve competitiveness and support long-term business growth.
• Build a resilient supply chain through supplier risk assessment, dual sourcing, and contingency planning.
• Drive continuous improvement in supplier performance, quality, cost, delivery, and compliance.
• Work closely with Planning, R&D, QA, Production, and other functions to support business priorities and new product development.

4. Leadership & Collaboration

• Clearly communicate business goals, roles, responsibilities, and expectations to the team.
• Promote teamwork and encourage collaboration across functions.
• Encourage open and honest communication, where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, concerns, and feedback.
• Support team development by understanding individual strengths, development needs, and career goals.
• Create a culture that encourages creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Recognize and reward teamwork and outstanding performance.
• Continuously improve professional and technical knowledge through internal and external training programs.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, International Business, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• An MBA or other postgraduate qualification is an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in Business Development, International Sales, Product Management, Strategic Sourcing, or Commercial Management, preferably in FMCG, Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, or OEM/ODM industries.
• At least 3 years of leadership experience managing cross-functional teams and driving strategic business initiatives.
• Proven track record in developing new markets, acquiring key accounts, and delivering sustainable business growth.
• Strong experience working with OEM/ODM partners, contract manufacturers, and global suppliers.
• Experience in new product development (NPD), product commercialization, and portfolio management.
• Solid understanding of international trade, sourcing, procurement, and supply chain management.
• Experience managing P&L, pricing strategy, business planning, and profitability analysis is highly preferred.