Description:

Role Purpose:

The Category Manager - Lenses will be responsible for driving growth, profitability, and market share of the spectacle lens and contact lens categories.

The role involves end-to-end ownership of category strategy, assortment planning, pricing, new product development, vendor management, training support, performance tracking, and customer experience, ensuring alignment with business objectives and customer needs.

Key Responsibilities:

Category Strategy & Growth:

- Develop and execute category growth strategies for spectacle lenses (SV, PAL, high index, premium lenses) and contact lenses.

- Identify growth opportunities through market trends, customer insights, and competitive benchmarking.

- Drive category expansion by improving penetration, upgrade mix, and premiumisation.

- Define short-term and long-term roadmaps aligned with overall business goals.

New Product Development (NPD) & Launch:

- Plan and execute new product development and launches in collaboration with vendors and internal teams.

- Evaluate new technologies, materials, coatings, and innovations in lenses to stay competitive.

- Ensure timely launch, availability, and readiness across stores and channels.

- Track post-launch performance and take corrective actions if required.

Assortment & Product Mix Management:

- Design and manage assortment architecture across Single Vision (SV), Progressive (PAL), Contact Lenses (CL), high index, and premium products.

- Optimize product mix with a strong focus on SV and PAL contribution.

- Ensure the right assortment by price tier, usage, prescription type, and customer segment.

- Rationalize underperforming SKUs while strengthening high-performing ranges.

Pricing & Promotions:

- Define and manage pricing strategy based on product positioning, cost structure, and market demand.

- Plan, execute, and monitor promotional activities to drive volume and upgrades without impacting profitability.

- Regularly review pricing versus competitors and recommend adjustments where required.

- Ensure price consistency and clarity across channels and stores.

Financial & KPI Management:

- Own key category KPIs including sales, gross margin, profitability, market share, and upgrade ratio.

- Monitor GM performance and identify cost and profitability drivers.

- Drive initiatives to improve margin through mix optimization, pricing actions, and vendor negotiations.

Supply Chain & Operations Coordination:

- Track delivery TAT, order success rate, and fill rates for lenses.

- Identify and resolve supply-related issues impacting store operations or customer experience.

- Forecast demand based on seasonality, historical sales trends, and upcoming promotions.

- Work closely with supply chain teams to ensure optimal inventory availability.

Product Quality & Compliance:

- Ensure product quality checks are conducted and key technical specifications are met.

- Address quality issues, defects, and vendor-related concerns promptly.

- Ensure compliance with internal standards and regulatory requirements.

Learning & Development (L&D) Support:

- Collaborate with operations and training teams to train store staff on lens products and upgrades.

- Develop and share product guides, lens comparison charts, FAQs, and promotional toolkits.

- Enable frontline teams to improve sales conversion, customer confidence, and upselling.

Performance Tracking & Business Insights:

- Monitor week-on-week category performance and identify trends.

- Conduct detailed city-wise and store-wise sales analysis, including high returns and product performance.

- Track key metrics such as returns, remakes, and customer complaints.

- Prepare and present weekly and monthly business review reports with actionable insights.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management:

- Manage relationships with lens vendors covering pricing, NPD, marketing support, and operational efficiency.

- Negotiate commercial terms and ensure alignment on business objectives.

- Coordinate cross-functionally with sales, marketing, operations, supply chain, and finance teams.

- Drive product upgrades and enhancements based on market and customer demand.

Customer Experience & Feedback Management:

- Track and analyze customer feedback, complaints, and returns related to lenses.

- Work closely with sales and operations teams to resolve customer issues efficiently.

- Use customer insights to improve product offerings, quality, and service delivery.

- Ensure that customer expectations are met and brand promises are consistently delivered.

Key Skills & Competencies:

- Strong understanding of optical lenses and contact lens categories.

- Analytical and data-driven decision-making.

- Vendor negotiation and stakeholder management.

- Strategic thinking with execution focus.

- Cross-functional collaboration and communication.

- Commercial acumen and customer-centric mindset.

Educational & Experience Requirements:

- Graduate / Postgraduate in Business, Marketing, or a related field.

- 5-8 years of experience in category management, merchandising, or product management, preferably in optical, retail, or FMCG sectors.