Category Manager - Retail Buying/Procurement/Merchandising

About the Organization:

The company is one of the fastest growing modern retail chains in Central Africa, operating a network of supermarkets that cater to a diverse consumer base. The organization has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality products, competitive pricing, and a wide assortment of international and local brands.

With a focus on modern retail practices, the company emphasizes efficient supply chain management, strategic vendor partnerships, category growth initiatives, and data-driven merchandising decisions to maximize both customer satisfaction and business profitability.

The organization is currently investing heavily in expanding its product assortment, strengthening procurement processes, and building a strong category management team to support its next phase of growth.

Key Responsibilities:

- Develop and implement category strategies to drive sales growth and improve category profitability.

- Manage product assortment planning, SKU rationalization, and shelf optimization.

- Analyze sales data, customer buying patterns, and market trends to identify growth opportunities.

- Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and negotiate commercial terms including pricing, discounts, and promotional support.

- Plan and execute category promotions, seasonal campaigns, and pricing strategies to improve sell-through.

- Ensure optimal inventory levels and reduce stock-outs through demand forecasting and inventory planning.

- Work closely with procurement, logistics, marketing, and store operations teams to ensure smooth category execution.

- Monitor category performance metrics such as sales growth, margins, inventory turnover, and product availability.

- Identify opportunities for new product introductions and expansion of existing categories.

- Support store teams with category guidelines, merchandising standards, and product placement strategies.

Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate should have:

- Experience in Category Management / Retail Buying / Procurement / Merchandising

- Experience working in Supermarket, Hypermarket, Retail Chain, or Modern Trade environments

- Strong expertise in supplier negotiation, pricing strategies, assortment planning, and inventory management

- Proven ability to analyze data and make category decisions based on business performance

- Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams including procurement, marketing, and operations

- Strong communication, negotiation, and analytical skills

- Willingness to relocate and work in an international retail environment