Assistant General Manager - Buying - Toys/Stationery & Confectionery

Role & Responsibilities :

The AGM - Buying (Toys, Stationery & Confectionery) will be responsible for leading the buying function, developing category strategies, driving sourcing excellence, managing strategic vendor partnerships, and maximizing category profitability.

The role requires strong leadership capabilities, commercial acumen, and expertise in organized retail to deliver sustainable business growth while ensuring optimal assortment planning, inventory efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Preferred Candidate Profile :

Category Strategy & Business Growth :

- Develop and execute long-term category strategies for Toys, Stationery, and Confectionery to achieve business growth and profitability.

- Identify emerging market trends, customer preferences, and product opportunities to strengthen category performance.

- Drive assortment planning, product selection, and seasonal buying aligned with business objectives.

- Continuously evaluate category performance and implement strategies to maximize revenue and market share.

Buying & Vendor Management :

- Lead strategic sourcing initiatives and establish long-term partnerships with domestic and international suppliers.

- Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing, payment terms, promotional support, and supply contracts.

- Evaluate supplier performance and ensure consistent quality, cost efficiency, and timely product availability.

- Develop vendor strategies that support business expansion and competitive advantage.

Commercial & Financial Management :

- Own category P&L and drive revenue, margin, and profitability targets.

- Develop pricing strategies and commercial plans to maximize category performance.

- Monitor key business metrics, sales trends, and financial performance.

- Recommend corrective actions and business improvements based on analytical insights.

Inventory & Supply Chain Optimization :

- Ensure optimal inventory levels through effective demand forecasting and replenishment planning.

- Collaborate with supply chain and operations teams to improve inventory turnover and product availability.

- Minimize excess inventory and stock-outs while maintaining service levels.

- Support efficient warehouse planning and supply chain execution.

Leadership & Team Development :

- Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing buying and category management teams.

- Foster a collaborative, performance-driven culture focused on innovation and continuous improvement.

- Drive cross-functional collaboration with merchandising, marketing, finance, operations, and supply chain teams.

- Build organizational capability through coaching, succession planning, and performance management.

Stakeholder & Business Collaboration :

- Partner with senior leadership to align category strategies with organizational goals.

- Work closely with marketing teams on promotional campaigns and new product launches.

- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external business partners.

- Present category performance, strategic initiatives, and business recommendations to leadership.

Mandatory Skills :

- 10+ years of experience in Category Buying, Retail Merchandising, or Category Management.

- Leadership experience in organized retail, preferably in Toys, Stationery, Confectionery, FMCG, Consumer Products, or Modern Trade.

- Strong expertise in category strategy, buying, strategic sourcing, and vendor management.

- Proven experience in commercial negotiations, supplier relationship management, and contract management.

- Hands-on experience managing P&L, pricing strategies, and category profitability.

- Strong knowledge of assortment planning, demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and retail analytics.

- Excellent leadership, analytical, commercial, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

- Proven track record of driving category growth, business expansion, and profitability.

Nice to Have :

- Experience managing national or multi-category buying portfolios.

- Exposure to private label development and international sourcing.

- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and retail ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics.

- MBA in Retail Management, Supply Chain, Marketing, or Business Administration.

- Experience leading digital transformation or omnichannel retail buying initiatives.

- Familiarity with AI-driven demand forecasting, merchandising analytics, and category planning tools