Category Head - Consumer Lighting

Acelot Innovation Private Limited

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Location: Kolkata, West Bengal

Experience: 10–15 Years

Qualification: MBA in Marketing preferred / Engineering / Business Graduate

Compensation: Up to ₹60 LPA Fixed

Employment Type: Full-Time | On-Site

Function: Category Management | Product Management | Brand Management | Marketing

Reporting To: Vice President – Marketing

Portfolio Responsibility: Approximately ₹250 Crore

About the RoleAcelot Innovation Pvt. Ltd. is hiring a Category Head – Consumer Lighting for a leading Indian Consumer Electricals and FMEG organisation, based at its Kolkata headquarters.

We are seeking an accomplished Category Management, Product Management or Brand Management professional with substantial experience in Consumer Lighting, LED Lighting and Electrical Products.

The incumbent will lead an approximately ₹250 crore Consumer Lighting portfolio, driving category strategy, revenue growth, market share expansion, product innovation, brand positioning, pricing strategy, go-to-market execution and portfolio profitability.

This leadership position requires expertise in Consumer Lighting Product Management, Category Business Planning, New Product Development (NPD), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Consumer Insights, Brand Marketing, Pricing and Margin Management, Distribution Strategy and Cross-Functional Leadership.

The successful candidate will collaborate with Sales, Marketing, R&D, Procurement, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality and Finance to deliver profitable and sustainable category growth.

Key Responsibilities1. Category Management & Business Strategy

Develop and implement annual and long-term Category Management strategies for the Consumer Lighting business.
Drive category revenue growth, market share, portfolio profitability and competitive positioning.
Prepare Annual Operating Plans (AOP), business forecasts, marketing budgets and category growth roadmaps.
Identify growth opportunities through market expansion, product portfolio diversification, innovation and changing consumer preferences.
Conduct category performance reviews and execute corrective business strategies.2. Consumer Lighting Product Portfolio Management
Manage the end-to-end Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) of LED Bulbs, LED Battens, Panel Lights, Downlights, Emergency Lights, Rechargeable Lighting and related Consumer Lighting products.
Lead Product Portfolio Strategy, Product Planning, Product Positioning and SKU Rationalisation.
Evaluate category assortment, product performance, pricing, competitiveness and contribution margins.
Identify opportunities for portfolio optimisation, product enhancement and discontinuation of underperforming SKUs.
Develop differentiated consumer value propositions to strengthen market competitiveness.3. New Product Development (NPD) & Innovation
Drive New Product Development (NPD), Product Innovation and Product Launch Management.
Collaborate with R&D, Product Engineering, Quality, Procurement and Manufacturing teams.
Evaluate emerging lighting technologies, product features, market trends and consumer requirements.
Manage the innovation pipeline from concept development to market introduction.
Ensure timely launches, product competitiveness, commercial viability and market acceptance.
Track new product launch success rates and revenue contribution from new products.4. Brand Management & Consumer Marketing
Develop and execute Brand Management and Category Marketing strategies.
Strengthen Brand Equity, Brand Awareness, Consumer Preference and Competitive Positioning.
Plan ATL Marketing, BTL Marketing, Digital Marketing, Retail Marketing and In-Store Activations.
Collaborate with Brand, Digital and Sales teams on integrated marketing campaigns.
Use Consumer Insights, Market Research and Competitor Benchmarking to improve marketing effectiveness.
Monitor brand performance and Return on Marketing Investment (ROMI).5. Pricing Strategy & Category Profitability
Develop Pricing Strategies aligned with competitive dynamics, consumer value and business profitability.
Track Product Margins, Gross Margins, Contribution Margins and Category Profitability.
Analyse product mix and identify opportunities for Margin Improvement and Cost Optimisation.
Collaborate with Procurement and Product Engineering to improve product cost competitiveness.
Evaluate revenue performance, market positioning and category financial outcomes.6. Go-to-Market (GTM) & Channel Strategy
Develop and execute Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategies for existing products and new product launches.
Partner with Sales teams to strengthen Distribution Reach, Retail Visibility, Channel Penetration and Product Availability.
Support category growth across General Trade, Modern Trade, E-commerce, Institutional Sales and Project Business.
Develop Sales Enablement tools, Product Training, Product Communication and Channel Activation programmes.
Improve Retailer Engagement, Product Visibility and in-market execution.7. Consumer Insights & Competitive Intelligence
Analyse Consumer Behaviour, Market Trends, Competitive Activity and Lighting Industry Developments.
Conduct Market Visits, Consumer Research and Channel Interactions.
Identify emerging consumer needs, category gaps and potential growth opportunities.
Translate insights into actionable Product Development, Pricing, Portfolio and Marketing decisions.8. Demand Forecasting & Supply Chain Coordination
Collaborate with Supply Chain and Operations on Demand Forecasting, Inventory Planning and Product Availability.
Participate in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP).
Improve Forecast Accuracy, Inventory Turns and Stock Availability.
Coordinate new product introductions, portfolio transitions and product phase-outs.
Optimise working inventory while maintaining category service levels.9. Financial Planning & Performance Management
Develop and monitor Category Marketing Budgets and Operating Plans.
Review Revenue Growth, Market Share, Category Margins, Product Profitability and Marketing ROI.
Analyse business performance and recommend improvement initiatives.
Ensure commercial investments are aligned with measurable business objectives.10. Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management
Lead and develop Product Management and Brand/Category Marketing professionals.
Drive Cross-Functional Collaboration across Marketing, Sales, R&D, Procurement, Supply Chain, Finance and Manufacturing.
Build a performance-oriented culture focused on innovation, accountability and execution.
Demonstrate strong Stakeholder Management, Analytical Decision-Making and Strategic Leadership.Required Qualifications & ExperienceEssential Requirements
10–15 years of relevant professional experience in Category Management, Product Management or Brand Management in the Lighting / Electrical industry.
Strong practical exposure to Consumer Lighting products, including relevant LED Lighting categories.
Demonstrated experience in managing product portfolios and delivering business growth.
Experience in Product Lifecycle Management, New Product Development, Pricing Strategy and Portfolio Profitability.
Ability to develop and execute Category Business Plans, Marketing Strategies and Go-to-Market Plans.
Experience in Consumer Insights, Competitive Analysis and Cross-Functional Stakeholder Management.
Strong commercial understanding of Revenue, Margins, Category Performance and Business Analytics.
Willingness to work from the Kolkata corporate headquarters.Preferred Qualifications
MBA in Marketing or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing or a related discipline.
Experience with a recognised Consumer Lighting, Electrical Products or FMEG organisation.
Experience managing a sizable consumer lighting product portfolio.
Prior team leadership and strategic category planning exposure.Key Skills & CompetenciesTechnical & Functional Skills
Consumer Lighting
LED Lighting Products
Category Management
Product Management
Brand Management
Product Portfolio Management
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
New Product Development (NPD)
Product Launch Management
Category Strategy & Business Planning
Consumer Insights & Market Research
Pricing Strategy & Margin Management
Category Profitability
Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy
Sales & Distribution Enablement
ATL, BTL & Digital Marketing
Demand Forecasting & S&OP
Inventory Optimisation
Financial Planning & Business Analytics
Cross-Functional Stakeholder ManagementLeadership Competencies

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Success will be measured through:

Category Revenue Growth
Consumer Lighting Market Share
Gross Margin & Contribution Margin
Product Portfolio Profitability
New Product Launch Success Rate
Revenue from New Products
Demand Forecast Accuracy
Inventory Turns
Marketing ROI
Brand Health & Consumer Preference
Distribution Reach & Product AvailabilityLocation PreferenceThe role is based in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Preference will be given to candidates currently located in Kolkata / West Bengal.

Candidates based elsewhere who possess relevant Consumer Lighting industry experience and are willing to relocate to Kolkata may also apply.

Why Join?This opportunity offers the ability to lead a significant Consumer Lighting product portfolio, influence business strategy, drive product innovation, strengthen competitive positioning and deliver profitable category growth within an established Indian consumer products organisation.

Send Your CV To:

Acelot Innovation Pvt. Ltd. – Executive Search & Recruitment

Email: info@acelot.in

WhatsApp: +91 9999211110

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