Head of Merchandise

About Bapcor

Bapcor Ltd is a major provider in the automotive aftermarket, supplying accessories, equipment, and service solutions. Its portfolio includes well-known brands such as Burson, Autobarn, Midas, Truckline, Premier Auto Trade, and Baxters.

Beyond its automotive focus, Bapcor is a purpose-led business built around its people. The Melbourne-based corporate team contributes directly to the direction and performance of the wider group.

Joining Bapcor means becoming part of a supportive organisation with more than 1,000 locations and over 5,000 employees across Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. Safety, inclusion, customers, products, and company values are central to the way the business operates.

The organisation’s values are: doing the right thing, being in it together, giving a damn, and getting it done.

Role Overview

Bapcor is looking for an experienced, commercially focused Head of Merchandise to oversee a portfolio of categories and deliver strong financial and operational results.

This senior leadership position is responsible for turning strategy into practical category plans, improving performance, and coordinating delivery across Supply Chain, Finance, Planning, and Operations.

You will lead a capable team of Category Managers and help strengthen supplier relationships while supporting long-term, profitable growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the commercial results for a category portfolio, including sales, margin, and stock performance.
• Convert business strategy into 1–3 year category roadmaps and yearly financial goals.
• Shape pricing, product range, and promotional activity to improve growth and profitability.
• Manage P&L outcomes while balancing margin protection, product availability, and inventory exposure.
• Coordinate delivery across Supply Chain, Finance, Planning, and Operations teams.
• Develop strategic supplier partnerships and negotiate commercial terms and funding arrangements.
• Lead, mentor, and build the capability of Category Managers, with a focus on succession planning.
• Establish strong governance, commercial discipline, and consistent operating practices across the team.

Experience and Qualifications

• Background in merchandise or category leadership with responsibility for a portfolio or business unit.
• Strong commercial judgement and extensive experience with P&L, pricing, margin, and inventory management.
• Proven ability to turn strategy into execution and achieve financial targets consistently.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience, including coaching and developing high-performing teams.
• Capability to work effectively across Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations functions.
• Experience handling supplier partnerships and commercial negotiations.
• Analytical, insight-led approach to decision-making and performance improvement.
• Experience in retail, wholesale, or other complex multi-category environments, with automotive exposure being an advantage.

Additional Information

Bapcor offers a range of benefits and a workplace culture built around customer focus, teamwork, and delivering results.

• Access to a broad range of career opportunities across the Bapcor Group.
• Employee discounts on Bapcor products and services, including retail and trade brands.
• Policies designed to support work-life balance, including gender-neutral parental leave, purchase leave, and volunteer leave.
• Paid birthday leave.
• Wellbeing support.
• Novated leasing and other employee benefits.

The company is committed to an inclusive recruitment process and welcomes applications from people of all ages, cultures, gender identities, abilities, and backgrounds. Reasonable accommodation for the application process can be requested by email.

Recruitment agencies are asked not to contact the company regarding this opening.

Location

Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia.