Retail Category Manager

About the Company

We are a customer-centric company dedicated to growing high-performing retail categories through strategic assortment, competitive pricing, robust supplier partnerships, effective merchandising, and data-driven commercial practices. Our teams operate remotely and across multiple functions including Merchandising, Buying, Procurement, Marketing, E-commerce, Supply Chain, Finance, Store Operations, Customer Experience, Data Analytics, and Leadership to maximize category profitability, growth, availability, and customer value.

Role Overview

The Retail Category Manager will spearhead category strategies encompassing assortment planning, supplier management, pricing, promotions, merchandising, inventory, and commercial growth. The role demands leveraging retail analytics, customer insights, and supplier relations to boost sales, margins, loyalty, and optimize retail space and inventory returns.

Primary Responsibilities

• Create and execute category strategies aligned with customer demands, market trends, and company growth objectives.
• Oversee category sales, margins, assortment, pricing, promotions, inventory, availability, space productivity, and customer experience metrics.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Merchandising, Buying, Procurement, Marketing, E-commerce, Supply Chain, Finance, Operations, Customer Experience, Analytics, and Leadership.
• Perform category reviews, market and competitor analysis, customer research, and product performance evaluations.
• Design assortment strategies that include core items, seasonal ranges, new introductions, private-label products, premium and value lines, and category rationalization.
• Track key performance indicators such as sales growth, gross margin, market share, inventory turnover, sell-through, availability, out-of-stock rates, basket contribution, transaction value, markdown rates, and ROI.
• Prepare category plans, budgets, sales forecasts, promotional schedules, product roadmaps, pricing approaches, and commercial targets.
• Interpret customer purchasing patterns, basket compositions, shopping missions, product affinities, pricing sensitivities, demographics, and lifecycle trends.
• Develop pricing and promotional strategies informed by competitor pricing, price elasticity, promotion efficiency, margin impact, and revenue growth opportunities.
• Manage supplier relationships including negotiations, contracts, rebates, promotional funding, product development, trading terms, and performance monitoring.
• Conduct supplier business reviews with plans to improve cost, quality, availability, innovation, delivery, service, and commercial contribution.
• Identify new products, emerging brands, alternative suppliers, trends, and untapped category opportunities.
• Lead launch initiatives for new products and ranges coordinating supplier readiness, pricing, inventory, marketing, merchandising, ecommerce, and retail execution.
• Optimize inventory and availability balancing demand forecasting, capital, stock levels, replenishment, shelf availability, and markdown risks partnering with Supply Chain and Operations.
• Create planograms, space allocation models, assortment productivity measures, shelf-space guidelines, and store-level category optimization programs where required.
• Support omnichannel sales including brick-and-mortar, e-commerce, marketplaces, mobile apps, social commerce, and other advancing retail channels.
• Keep abreast of competitor assortments, pricing, promotional activities, product launches, private labels, customer value propositions, and market placement.
• Ensure adherence to UAE consumer protection laws, product labeling, advertising, competition, import regulations, product safety, and commercial compliance for all category activities.
• Drive digital transformation by leveraging AI technologies for assortment optimization, demand forecasting, dynamic pricing, personalized merchandising, competitive intelligence, and inventory analytics.
• Utilize multiple platforms and software including SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Power BI, Tableau, NielsenIQ, Circana, Euromonitor, Google Analytics, ecommerce analytics, category-management and merchandising tools, and retail planning systems.
• Oversee category budgets, supplier investments, promotional funds, market research, merchandising initiatives, platform technologies, product development projects, and strategic category initiatives.
• Prepare executive-level reports: category reviews, sales/margin dashboards, assortment analyses, supplier scorecards, pricing reports, promotions evaluations, market assessments, and strategic recommendations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop category teams including managers, assistant buyers, merchandising specialists, analysts, and promote a culture of customer focus, commercial excellence, analytics, innovation, accountability and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Retail Management, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Economics, Finance, or related fields.
• Master’s degree (MBA) or advanced degrees in related disciplines highly preferred.
• Professional certifications in category management, merchandising, procurement, analytics, or retail management considered an asset.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in retail category management, merchandising, buying, commercial management, procurement, or planning roles.
• At least 2 years managing retail categories, supplier portfolios, merchandising efforts, category strategies, or commercial projects preferred.
• Proficient understanding of category management, assortment strategy, pricing, promotions, supplier negotiations, inventory management, customer insights, and analytics.
• Experience with enterprise software such as SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Power BI, Tableau, NielsenIQ, Circana, Euromonitor, Google Analytics, e-commerce platforms, category-management systems, and merchandising/retail planning tools.
• Familiarity with AI-driven retail technologies including predictive analytics, dynamic pricing, recommendation engines, intelligent merchandising, and competitive intelligence is advantageous.
• Excellent commercial acumen, analytical skills, negotiation, communication, supplier and stakeholder relationship management, project management and problem-solving abilities.
• Capability to translate market/customer insights into effective category plans that enhance sales, margins, inventory, availability, and customer satisfaction.
• Proven ability to handle multiple category initiatives balancing customer needs, sales & margin targets, inventory, supplier relationships, promotional spending, pricing, operational factors, and business priorities.
• Ability to work effectively in a fully remote environment with cross-functional teams and travel occasionally for supplier meetings, store visits, market research, and strategic planning when required.

Benefits and Offerings

• Fully remote position allowing collaboration across global retail and merchandising functions.
• Competitive salary with incentives based on performance.
• Comprehensive health and wellness programs.
• Career advancement and professional growth in retail category leadership.
• Opportunity to work with AI-powered retail analytics, dynamic pricing, personalized merchandising, and next-gen commerce tools.
• Engaging and innovative culture focused on customer value, commercial performance, supplier excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Influence high-growth retail categories by connecting customer insights, assortment, pricing, supplier management, inventory, merchandising, and omnichannel experiences.