Grocery Vertical Lead

• Mr D , a division of takealot.com, is looking for a highly talented Grocery Vertical Lead to join our team in Cape Town.
• We are a young, dynamic, hyper growth company looking for smart, creative, hard-working people with integrity to join us!
• Think you’ve been challenged before? Think again!

• Scale : Show the millions of Mr D customers what you can do
• Learn : We work with the best of the best, and then some.
• Grow : Expand your career in the fast-growing Takealot Group: takealot.com, Superbalist.com and Mr D. We like to promote from within: Here’s your chance.

This position reports to the Head Of Retail

The role will be key to implementing grocery channel strategies, driving performance accountability across cross-functional teams, optimizing customer experience, and managing commercial outcomes within the e-commerce grocery landscape

Key responsibilities: (What are you directly responsible to achieve within the scope of your role)

Section 1: Merchandising & Commercial Implementation

(35%)

• Implement category merchandising, optimize product positioning/search, increase average basket size/frequency, and coordinate seasonal campaigns and promotional planning with Pick n Pay.

• Section 2: Performance Management & Accountability
• (40%)

• Marketing Coordination: Align Mr D and Pick n Pay marketing teams; track customer acquisition/retention metrics.
• Operations Oversight: Create visibility on delivery execution metrics; drive corrective actions and escalate operational issues with internal/external teams to preserve SLA KPIs
• Utilize data analytics to evaluate the performance of the vertical and make data-driven recommendations.
• Prepare regular reports on key metrics, trends, and insights for internal and external stakeholders.

• Section 3: Project Management & Cross-Functional
• Coordination (25%)

• Responsible for cross functional project management on all Grocery related projects
• Participate in all Grocery workstream sessions to capture project tasks and co ordinate delivery across the Grocery Vertical

Output: (What are you expected to deliver within the scope of your role)

• Marketing - a successful joint marketing plan aligned to the Mr D and Pick n Pay Teams to drive Growth in active customer base, increased basket size, and purchase frequency
• Product Roadmap - driving cross functional accountability to deliver to this roadmap
• Grocery operational KPI delivery (SLA achievements, delivery standards)

Attributes required

• Cross-Functional Influence & Collaboration :Proven ability to lead project delivery, drive accountability, and influence outcomes across diverse teams (including Marketing, Operations, Merchandising, Product, and Engineering) without direct authority.
• Strategic Stakeholder Engagement : Exceptional capability to operate on high-value corporate partnerships through facilitating effective collaboration, and align internal and external stakeholders toward shared performance goals.
• Operational Change Management : Strong problem-solving and change management capabilities to identify performance gaps, implement corrective action plans, and drive structural optimizations when operational standards or SLAs are not met.
• Data analysis and cross-functional project management : Ability to interpret performance metrics, generate actionable insights, and lead collaborative initiatives across multiple departments.
• Strong understanding of online retail and its unique challenges and opportunities.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and derive actionable insights.
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans.
• Experience in managing cross-functional teams.
• Results-oriented with a focus on achieving targets and KPIs

Qualifications and Experience

• Relevant Degree (business studies, marketing, retail management, etc).
• Minimum 2-3 years work experience in an Ecommerce/Retail Environment
• 3+ years of project management/cross-functional coordination experience
• Experience in grocery/food retail, managing marketing partnership collaborations, knowledge of on-demand delivery metrics, and Project Management certification is preferred but not required

Let’s talk about life @ Mr D

• The power is in your hands : We offer a market-related, Total Remuneration Package which allows full flexibility according to your needs. Go on, be the master of your own destiny.
• No doors : We aren’t fans of stuffy offices or siloed work environments. See someone you like? High five, Collab and make something great.
• Online Learning : Share ideas and grow with global industry leaders who are all just a Slack message away. Love to learn? Up-skill with free access to courses on MyAcademy and more.
• Good times : Get to know the other extraordinary minds in the Takealot group during regular social events and out-of-office activities (think hikes, think mini golf, think good times).
• Birthday leave : Cake Day all the way. Enjoy your day off - you deserve it.
• Help when you need it most : Confidential counselling, legal support and financial guidance, for free, anytime, anywhere.
• Free parking: No more 5km fun runs to your desk (unless you want to).

• Like what you see?
• If you meet the above you are an Extraordinary Mind. Apply today!!
• Mr D is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants from previously disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities will be given preference