Category Manager (Lingerie)

Role Summary

This position is focused on accelerating growth, improving profitability, and strengthening market position for the lingerie business. The role calls for building and running the right plans across assortment, pricing, sourcing, and merchandising while staying aligned with customer preferences and business objectives.

Category & Business Management

• Take full ownership of the profit and loss for the lingerie portfolio, including lingerie innerwear, nighties, night suits, pajamas, and related products.
• Create, plan, and execute annual business strategies to meet targets for sales, margin, and inventory.
• Study customer behavior, purchasing trends, and market movement to shape category direction.
• Track category health using key measures such as sell-through, inventory turns, GMROI, and contribution margin.

Product & Assortment Strategy

• Design a balanced and competitive assortment across lingerie segments.
• Maintain the right mix of value-led, premium, and festive/seasonal products.
• Partner with design, sourcing, and vendors to launch new offerings that reflect current fashion trends.

Vendor & Sourcing Management

• Build long-term relationships with manufacturers, designers, and suppliers.
• Negotiate favorable commercial terms covering cost, quality, and lead time to support margin goals.
• Promote private-label development and exclusive brand tie-ups.

Merchandising & Inventory Planning

• Coordinate with merchandising and supply chain teams to ensure the right products are available across stores and channels.
• Manage stock efficiently through demand forecasting, open-to-buy planning, and smart allocation.
• Strengthen visual merchandising standards to improve the shopper experience.

Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Guide and develop a team of buyers, planners, and merchandisers.
• Collaborate with design, operations, supply chain, and retail stakeholders to ensure smooth execution.
• Share category reviews and business updates with senior leadership.

Education & Experience

This role requires more than 10 years of experience, with strong exposure to lingerie, nightwear, and innerwear categories. A Bachelor's or Master's degree from NIFT is mandatory.