We are looking for a dynamic and result-oriented Deputy Director Category Management (Kids Wear) to lead the growth, profitability, and strategic development of the Kids Wear category for one of India's leading fashion and lifestyle e-commerce platforms.

This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for driving category strategy, merchandising excellence, assortment planning, vendor partnerships, pricing, inventory optimization, and overall business performance.

The ideal candidate will possess strong experience in category management within the fashion retail industry, with mandatory exposure to the Kids Wear segment.

The role requires a blend of commercial acumen, analytical thinking, stakeholder management, and a deep understanding of fashion trends, consumer behavior, and online retail dynamics.

Key Responsibilities:

Category Strategy & Business Growth:

- Own and drive the overall business performance of the Kids Wear category.

- Develop and execute category growth strategies aligned with organizational objectives.

- Identify emerging market trends, consumer preferences, and business opportunities.

- Drive revenue growth, profitability, market share expansion, and category penetration.

- Monitor category KPIs and implement strategies to improve performance metrics.

Merchandising & Assortment Planning:

- Lead assortment planning and category merchandising initiatives.

- Ensure the right product mix across brands, price points, styles, and customer segments.

- Analyze customer buying behavior and optimize product offerings accordingly.

- Drive seasonal planning, product launches, promotional activities, and inventory strategies.

- Collaborate with planning teams to ensure product availability and inventory efficiency.

Vendor & Brand Management:

- Build and manage strategic relationships with brands, suppliers, and vendor partners.

- Lead vendor negotiations, commercial discussions, and business planning activities.

- Drive onboarding of new brands and expansion of existing partnerships.

- Evaluate vendor performance and implement improvement initiatives where required.

- Collaborate with partners to develop category-specific growth plans.

Pricing & Commercial Management:

- Develop pricing strategies to maximize sales and profitability.

- Analyze competitor pricing, market trends, and category performance.

- Drive margin improvement initiatives while maintaining competitive positioning.

- Monitor discounting, promotions, and pricing effectiveness.

Analytics & Performance Management:

- Leverage data and analytics to identify growth opportunities and business insights.

- Analyze sales performance, customer trends, inventory health, and conversion metrics.

- Prepare business reviews, forecasts, and strategic recommendations for leadership.

- Drive data-backed decision-making across category operations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

- Work closely with Buying, Planning, Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations, Product, and Finance teams.

- Ensure alignment between category objectives and overall business strategy.

- Collaborate on campaigns, product launches, customer acquisition initiatives, and marketplace growth programs.

- Influence stakeholders across multiple business functions to drive execution excellence.

Required Skills & Experience:

- 6-10 years of experience in Category Management, Buying, Merchandising, or Fashion Retail Management.

- Mandatory experience handling the Kids Wear category.

- Strong understanding of fashion retail, e-commerce, merchandising, and category economics.

- Experience managing large product portfolios and driving category growth.

- Proven expertise in vendor management, brand partnerships, and commercial negotiations.

- Strong analytical and business planning capabilities.

- Experience working with cross-functional teams in fast-paced retail environments.

Mandatory Requirements:

- NIFT qualification is mandatory.

- Prior experience managing the Kids Wear category.

- Strong Category Management and Merchandising experience.

- Proven experience in Vendor Management and Commercial Negotiations.

- Strong leadership and stakeholder management capabilities.

Preferred Skills:

- E-commerce or Marketplace Experience

- Fashion & Lifestyle Retail

- Assortment Planning

- Business Analytics

- Pricing & Promotions Strategy

- Inventory Management

- Brand Partnerships

- Consumer Insights

Key Competencies:

- Category Management

- Merchandising

- Business Growth Strategy

- Vendor Management

- Commercial Acumen

- Data-Driven Decision Making

- Leadership & Team Management

- Stakeholder Management

- Negotiation Skills

Why Join Us:

- Opportunity to lead a high-growth category within a leading fashion and lifestyle platform.

- Exposure to large-scale e-commerce and retail business operations.

- High-visibility leadership role with significant impact on category growth and profitability.

- Attractive compensation along with ESOP benefits and long-term growth opportunities