Junior Category Manager

Roles and responsibilities

• Set Assortment Guidelines by Country ( Breadth & Depth)
  • Lead with local teams on SKU Limit, Brand Limit, by category depending on Different Category Roles
  • Develop reports to assess the performance of the categories by country, covering low performing items, GMROI, Potential categories for assortment increase/ decrease, Cohorts & Csat scores.
• Lead with country teams on Identifying Brands that are Available in Targeted players in the market& Support country teams on Tracking newly listed items by Market for Main Suppliers
• Lead with Country teams on doing Gap Analysis of Tmart Assortment vs. Competition
• Support on exploring and listing exclusive brands & SKUs
• Lead with country teams on doing category performance reviews, by doing proper category rationalization exercises to identify items that need to be closed out and categories that require more listings
• Lead with country teams on identifying category roles and item roles by country taking into consideration different market dynamics and consumer behaviours
• Identify categories that require having investors and follow through on implementation
• Come up with special projects that help differentiate Tmart from competition and provide local teams with the needed support on implementation
  

Qualifications

• You have at least 5+ years of experience in progressive development and management of multiple product categories, matured by working for large retailers (FMCG), in an international setting.
• You have built teams and led cross-functional projects at scale.
• You are very detail-oriented, structured and know how to prioritize -- you consider yourself as someone who delivers solutions and not bottlenecks to be solved.
• You are willing to do anything necessary for the project to succeed, including working on the warehouse floor when you are short staffed to making a customer delivery, or to take customer calls. No job is too insignificant, no detail is too small for you.
• You are able to interact with senior-level executives and can manage the expectations of multiple stakeholders. You are someone energized by the unknown and look forward to learning each day on the job. You have excellent analytical and communication skills, and always like to be hands-on with several tools.
• You have excellent analytical and communication skills, and always like to be hands-on with several tools.
• Additionally, you have robust interpersonal and intercultural skills. You can inspire several teams and stakeholders to rally behind a mission.
• Language skills: Fluent English and Arabic would be highly advantageous.

Desired candidate profile

1. Strategic Planning and Analysis

• Ability to define long-term strategies for the category that align with overall company goals.
• Analyzing market trends, customer needs, and competitor activities to guide decision-making.
• Forecasting demand and ensuring the category meets sales targets and profit goals.

2. Product Knowledge

• Deep understanding of the products within the category, including features, customer preferences, and market positioning.
• Collaborating with product development teams to ensure the right mix of products and introducing new products when necessary.
• Keeping up with industry trends and innovations to stay ahead of competitors.

3. Pricing and Profitability Management

• Setting pricing strategies that balance competitiveness and profitability, considering cost, demand, and competitor pricing.
• Monitoring the performance of products and adjusting pricing strategies accordingly.
• Conducting financial analysis to optimize profitability within the category.

4. Vendor and Supplier Management

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and negotiating terms, pricing, and delivery schedules.
• Managing supplier performance to ensure timely delivery, quality products, and cost-effective solutions.
• Sourcing new suppliers or products when necessary to fill gaps in the product portfolio.

5. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Working with sales, marketing, logistics, and inventory teams to align product strategies with marketing campaigns, inventory levels, and distribution channels.
• Collaborating with the sales team to ensure they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to sell the products effectively.
• Coordinating with the marketing team to ensure promotional activities align with product launches or key seasonal periods.

6. Market Research and Consumer Insights

• Conducting market research to understand customer needs, preferences, and purchasing behavior.
• Using consumer insights to inform product decisions, promotional strategies, and overall category performance.
• Evaluating competitors' strategies and adapting accordingly to maintain a competitive edge.

7. Project Management

• Overseeing product launches, promotional campaigns, and other initiatives within the category.
• Managing timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure successful execution of category initiatives.
• Leading cross-functional teams to bring projects to life efficiently.

8. Data Analysis and Reporting

• Using data analytics tools to track product performance, sales trends, and inventory levels.
• Regularly reporting on category performance, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Making data-driven recommendations for product development, pricing adjustments, or promotional campaigns.