Category Manager

The category manager will lead and own the full category strategy to drive sales, profitability, market share, and availability. The Category Manager is responsible for assortment planning, pricing, promotions, vendor performance, market analysis, budgeting, and monthly commercial closing. This role supervises the Category Specialist and ensures flawless execution across operations, supply chain, marketing, and marketplace teams. The Category Manager secures healthy inventory, strong supplier relationships, and a customer-focused category offering that supports both offline and e-commerce channels. RESPONSIBILITIES Category Strategy Development - Develop and implement an overall category strategy aligned with the company’s goals. - Lead quarterly category reviews, portfolio planning, and commercial roadmaps. - Define sales, margin, pricing, and availability objectives for the category. - Ensure alignment between strategy, operational execution, and customer expectations. Assortment Planning & Inventory Ownership - Approve category assortment mix based on consumer insights, sales performance, and market trends. - Lead SKU rationalization waves, item classification, and seasonal planning. - Monitor inventory health (OOS, overstock, ageing) and work with Supply Chain to ensure optimal stock levels. - Resolve escalated availability issues and ensure proper replenishment. Vendor Management & Commercial Negotiations - Establish and maintain strong partnerships with suppliers. - Negotiate pricing, rebates, trade terms, contracts, and promotional support. - Evaluate supplier performance (availability, OTIF, contribution, lead time). - Secure exclusive deals, better margin opportunities, and category-boosting activities. Pricing & Promotion Strategy - Set the pricing architecture and approve all regular and promotional prices. - Lead promotion planning with Marketing and Marketplace teams. - Conduct pre- and post-promo analysis to ensure ROI and uplift effectiveness. - Ensure competitive pricing in the market while maintaining healthy margins. Market Analysis & Performance Tracking - Continuously analyze customer behavior, sales trends, and competitor activities. - Identify opportunities for new products, innovation waves, and strategic adjustments. - Drive data-based decisions to optimize category performance. - Monitor KPIs including sales, margin, DOC, availability, inventory turnover, and BSV. Media Partnership & Visibility Management - Collaborate with the Media Partnership team to secure supplier investments. - Oversee listing fees, visibility activities, digital ads, and offline media support. - Ensure proper commercial return and alignment with supplier plans. Monthly Closing & Reporting - Lead monthly category closing with detailed commercial analysis. - Prepare reports for CCO and senior management on category performance, gaps, and action plans. - Provide insights and forecasting for budgeting cycles. Requirements · Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or related field. · 4–6 years experience in FMCG or Retail Category Management. · Strong skills in negotiation, pricing, supplier management, and commercial planning. · Advanced use of Excel, PowerPoint, BI tools. · Strong analytical and presentation capabilities. · Understanding of JDA / ERP / forecasting systems (preferred). · Leadership skills to manage the Category Specialist and cross-functional operations.