📌 OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEWDatafin Recruitment is actively recruiting for a Category Specialist: Schools | JHB position in Gauteng. This is an excellent opportunity for professionals in the Sales / Marketing / Retail / Business / Development sector looking to advance their careers.
🎯 IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILEWe are seeking talented individuals with the following profile• Experience Level: 2 - 3 years • Educational Background: Bachelor or equivalent • Industry Focus: Sales / Marketing / Retail / Business / Development • Location Preference: in Gauteng
💼 WHY THIS ROLE MATTERSSales and marketing roles like Category Specialist: Schools | JHB are key revenue drivers. This position offers direct impact on business growth and market expansion.
📈 CAREER DEVELOPMENT INSIGHTSAt the 2-3 year mark in Sales / Marketing / Retail / Business / Development, you can leverage your foundational knowledge to take on more complex responsibilities and leadership opportunities.
📋 APPLICATION GUIDANCEWhen applying for this Category Specialist: Schools | JHB position, ensure your CV highlights: • Relevant experience matching the 2 - 3 years requirement • Educational qualifications in line with Bachelor • Specific achievements in the Sales / Marketing / Retail / Business / Development field • Any certifications or specialized training
🌍 SOUTH AFRICA JOB MARKET CONTEXTThe Sales / Marketing / Retail / Business / Development sector in South Africa continues to show strong demand for skilled professionals. This position represents a valuable opportunity in the current job market.
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ENVIRONMENTA leading retail group is seeking a Category Specialist: Schools who will be accountable for growing and protecting the group’s presence in the schools segment through year-round portfolio management and consultative selling. This role manages an assigned portfolio of schools, onboarding new schools, retaining existing ones across seasons, and driving commercial sales across the full Back-to-School category range including stationery, office paper, furniture, technology, and hygiene products. The focus is shifting from seasonal campaigns to an Everyday Schools approach, engaging schools throughout the year to unlock their monthly commercial spend.
DUTIESManage assigned portfolio of schools with planned contact rhythm (pre-season, peak, post-peak, year-round); deliver dependable service across all product categories and maintain current stakeholder maps for priority schools Actively pursue and convert new schools to expand the group’s presence in assigned region; identify prospects by profile, decision-maker access, category fit, and seasonal timing; execute structured pre-season engagement Plan and execute Back-to-School as a deliberate campaign with pre-season pipeline build, in-season list management, and post-peak retention review; achieve monthly, seasonal, and annual revenue and gross profit targets Diagnose school needs before recommending through questioning on grade-level requirements, budget shape, timing, and pain points; translate requirements into accurate lists, quotes, and specifications Drive year-round commercial sales to keep portfolio active between seasons and unlock monthly school spend beyond peak periods; suggest fit-for-purpose options that serve schools better Coordinate with Key Account Management, New Business Development, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Category teams for clean fulfilment; maintain CRM currency and surface pricing pressure early Build organizational intelligence on the schools market by capturing and sharing structured insights on competitor activity, procurement patterns, budget cycles, and demand shifts.
REQUIREMENTSRequired Qualifications
Relevant tertiary qualification in Sales, Marketing, Business Administration, Education, or related commercial field Solid experience in B2B sales, account management, or commercial roles with portfolio management, client retention, and new business development responsibility Experience working in education, institutional sales, or multi-category commercial environments; exposure to consultative selling and stakeholder relationship management Proficiency in CRM systems | Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) | Quoting and specification management Experience managing client portfolios with planned engagement cadence; working in seasonal or campaign-driven sales environments with pipeline discipline.
Preferred Qualifications
Professional certifications in sales, account management, or category management Experience in the office products, education, or B2B distribution sector Demonstrated success in multi-stakeholder relationship building and service recovery
KEY SKILLS | CAPABILITIESTechnical Skills: CRM & Sales Management Software | Microsoft Office Suite | Quoting & Specification Management | Category Knowledge (Stationery, Furniture, Technology, Hygiene) | Schools Market & Procurement Insight Soft Skills: Consultative Selling & Diagnostic Questioning | Stakeholder Relationship Management | Commercial Negotiation & Value Articulation | Time Management & Priority Setting | Problem-Solving & Service Recovery | Communication & Interpersonal Skills
How To Apply
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Click the Apply Now button above.
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Attach your Application letter, updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and any supporting documents required.
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Use a professional subject line such as Application for "Indicate Positions"
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Send your application before the closing date.
Note: Only shortlisted candidates are contacted.
