Digital Agri-Inputs Marketplace

JOB DESCRIPTION

Lead - Category Management

Location: Bengaluru (Head Office)

Reports To: Head - Supply Chain Management (SCM)

Employment Type: Full-Time

ABOUT THE ROLE:

We are looking for a sharp, motivated, and commercially driven Category Manager to own and grow one or more product categories. This role is central to driving category revenue, supplier relationships and excellence, margin delivery, and cross-functional collaboration. The Category Manager will work closely with the Sales, Marketing, Technology, Finance, and Fulfilment teams to build a scalable and profitable category business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Category Strategy & Development:

- Define and execute a comprehensive category strategy aligned with business goals and market opportunities.

- Identify assortment gaps, emerging trends, and new SKU opportunities to drive growth.

- Conduct market research to understand the competitive landscape, pricing dynamics, and customer demand patterns.

- Build seasonal and annual category plans with clear revenue, margin, and growth targets.

2. Supplier, Vendor & Manufacturer Management:

- Own end-to-end relationships with suppliers, vendors, and manufacturers - from onboarding and negotiations to performance management.

- Lead commercial negotiations on pricing, payment terms, trade deals, and annual business plans (ABPs) with manufacturing partners.

- Drive strategic partnerships with key suppliers and manufacturers to ensure supply continuity, priority allocations, and first-mover advantages on new launches.

- Unlock volume-based rebates, marketing development funds (MDF), and co-funded promotional opportunities through strong manufacturer engagement.

- Ensure compliance, quality standards, and timely resolution of supply or batch-related escalations.

3. Sales Co-Ownership & Business Performance:

- Collaborate with the Sales and Business Development teams to set and achieve monthly, quarterly, and annual targets.

- Drive category penetration, increase average order value, and improve repeat purchase rates.

- Analyse sales data, margin reports, and performance dashboards to identify growth levers.

- Lead promotional planning, scheme management, and demand generation activities.

4. Margin Ownership & P&L Management:

- Own category-level P&L, including revenue, gross margin, and cost optimisation.

- Monitor and improve landed costs through strategic sourcing, freight optimisation, and vendor schemes.

- Track pricing trends and competitive movements to ensure timely pricing adjustments.

- Identify and eliminate cost inefficiencies across the procurement-to-fulfilment cycle.

5. Operational Excellence & Supply Chain Coordination:

- Coordinate with the Fulfilment, Warehouse, and Finance teams to ensure seamless PO-to-invoice execution.

- Monitor fill rates, delivery TAT, and in-stock availability to ensure high service-level compliance.

- Use inventory planning tools and data analytics to drive accurate demand forecasting.

- Identify process improvements and drive automation / technology adoption in category operations.

6. Stakeholder Management & Reporting:

- Prepare and present regular category performance reviews to senior leadership.

- Work cross-functionally with the Marketing, Finance, Technology, and Operations teams.

- Build internal dashboards and reports to track KPIs and flag risks proactively.

REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

- MBA or Post-Graduate qualification in SCM / Operations / Business / Agriculture preferred.

Experience:

- 5 - 10 years of experience in Category Management, Procurement, Sourcing, or related SCM roles.

- Prior experience in a high-growth startup, e-commerce, agri-tech, or B2C distribution business preferred.

Skills & Competencies:

- Excellent supplier negotiation and relationship management skills.

- Analytical and data-driven approach - proficient in Excel, Google Sheets, and BI dashboards.

- Deep understanding of supply chain operations, procurement cycles, and inventory management.

- Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

- Ability to operate in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment with an ownership mindset.