Senior Manager/Lead - Category Management - FMCG/Retail

We are seeking a Senior Manager / Category Head to drive growth, profitability, and operational efficiency across assigned product categories. The role requires strategic thinking and hands-on execution in assortment management, supplier partnerships, inventory optimization, and marketing initiatives to achieve business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Category Sales & Profitability:

- Achieve/exceed category sales and profitability targets.

- Track category growth, share, and sales per sq. ft.

- Drive gross margin and GMROI for maximum profitability.

Assortment Management:

- Optimize product mix based on customer insights and market trends.

- Lead SKU rationalization for operational efficiency.

- Ensure high product availability to maximize sales potential.

Inventory Management:

- Maintain optimal inventory balancing cost and availability.

- Monitor inventory turnover, days of stock, and stockout rates.

- Minimize stockouts and excess inventory through effective strategies.

Marketing & Promotions:

- Plan and execute category-specific marketing & promotional campaigns.

- Measure impact via conversion rates, retention, and ROI.

- Collaborate with sales & marketing teams to enhance visibility and engagement.

Supplier Management:

- Build strong, collaborative supplier relationships.

- Negotiate contracts for cost savings and improved delivery.

- Track supplier performance to ensure reliability and quality.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

- Category Sales Growth: % increase vs. prior period

- Category Share: % of total company sales

- Sales per Sq. Ft.: Revenue per sq. ft.

- Gross Margin & GMROI: Profitability metrics

- Inventory Turnover & Days on Hand

- Stockout Rate & Product Availability

- SKU Optimization

- Conversion Rate & Customer Retention

- Supplier On-Time Delivery & Cost Avoidance

Required Qualifications & Skills:

Education: Bachelor's in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain; MBA preferred

Experience:

- 5-7 years in category management/retail, including 2+ years in leadership

- Strong analytical, commercial, and strategic planning skills

- Experience in supplier management & negotiation

- Excellent communication & cross-functional collaboration

- Proficiency in inventory management & category analytics tools