Category Buying Manager - E Commerce

The Category Buying Manager is responsible for driving the overall strategy, selection, and commercial performance of assigned product categories in an e-commerce environment. This role involves supplier negotiations, product assortment planning, pricing strategies, and sales optimization to ensure category growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction. Key Responsibilities: Category Strategy & Planning • Develop and execute a category strategy aligned with business goals and customer demand. • Identify key market trends, customer insights, and competitor strategies to drive category growth. • Define category performance targets, including revenue, profitability, and conversion rates. Product Selection & Assortment Planning • Curate and manage a compelling product assortment to meet customer needs and market demand. • Collaborate with merchandising and marketing teams to enhance product discoverability and promotions. • Identify and onboard new brands and suppliers to expand product offerings. Supplier & Vendor Management • Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and brands to secure the best commercial terms. • Negotiate pricing, margins, promotional agreements, and exclusive deals for e-commerce. • Monitor supplier performance and ensure compliance with contractual agreements. Pricing & Promotions • Develop dynamic pricing strategies to remain competitive while maintaining profitability. • Implement discounting and promotional campaigns in collaboration with the marketing team. • Monitor competitor pricing and adjust strategies accordingly. Sales Performance & Optimization • Track and analyze key category metrics, including sales, conversion rates, and average order value. • Identify opportunities to enhance category visibility, cross-selling, and upselling. • Work with digital marketing teams to optimize product listings, SEO, and paid campaigns. Inventory & Supply Chain Coordination • Ensure optimal stock levels to meet demand while minimizing overstock and stockouts. • Collaborate with supply chain and logistics teams to improve product availability and fulfillment. • Forecast demand based on historical sales trends and seasonality. Data Analysis & Reporting • Leverage data and analytics to assess category performance and identify growth opportunities. • Provide regular reports and insights to management on category trends and financial performance. • Use data-driven insights to improve customer experience and conversion rates.

Skills & Qualifications: • Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a related field. A master’s degree is a plus. • Experience: 5-10 years in Category Management, buying, or merchandising, preferably in e-commerce. • Strong knowledge of digital commerce, online retail, and marketplace dynamics. • Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills. • Proficiency in data analysis tools, Excel, and e-commerce platforms (Shopify, Magento, Amazon, etc.). • Ability to work in a fast-paced, data-driven environment with a strong commercial mindset. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): • Category revenue and profit margins. • Conversion rate and average order value. • Stock availability and inventory turnover. • Customer satisfaction and return rates. • Market share and competitor benchmarking.