Category Manager – Apparel

Confidential; Dubai; On-site; AED 260,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential in Dubai seeks an experienced Category Manager – Apparel to oversee merchandise planning, category strategy, product assortments, and commercial performance in a dynamic retail environment.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in apparel merchandising within large retail networks, and will collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize product performance, inventory management, and successful launches across approximately 100 stores.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or above in Business Administration, Retail Management, Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of apparel merchandising or category management in retail chains.
• Strong experience in assortment planning and product selection.
• Experience managing merchandise for a large retail network (≈100 stores).
• Strong understanding of retail operations, supply chain, logistics, and store operations.
• Proficiency in ERP systems, MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Responsibilities

• Develop category plans, merchandise strategies, and product assortments based on sales performance and market trends.
• Prepare seasonal and annual merchandise plans, including buying strategies and product launch schedules.
• Analyze UAE consumer preferences, shopping behavior, and market trends to identify growth opportunities.
• Lead product selection and assortment planning using historical sales data and category performance.
• Manage product launch calendars and coordinate with logistics and operations for timely product availability.
• Develop merchandising and product marketing strategies to maximize sales and product visibility.
• Monitor product costs, inventory levels, stock turnover, and sell-through rates to optimize purchasing decisions.
• Collaborate closely with buying, supply chain, logistics, store operations, and other cross-functional teams.

Skills

Category management

Merchandise planning

Retail analytics

Inventory management

Supply chain

Logistics

Store operations

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or above

Tools

ERP systems

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

A leading retail organization is seeking an experienced Category Manager – Apparel to oversee merchandise planning, category strategy, product assortment, and commercial performance in a dynamic retail environment. The successful candidate will play a key role in driving category growth through data-driven decision-making and effective merchandise management.

This position requires extensive experience in apparel merchandising, category planning, and retail operations. The ideal candidate will collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize product performance, improve inventory management, and deliver successful product launches across a large retail network.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop category plans, merchandise strategies, and product assortments based on sales performance, consumer insights, and market trends.
• Prepare seasonal and annual merchandise plans, including buying strategies and product launch schedules.
• Analyze UAE consumer preferences, shopping behavior, and market trends to identify growth opportunities.
• Conduct competitor analysis and recommend opportunities for new product development.
• Prepare annual, quarterly, and monthly merchandise and new product budgets.
• Lead product selection and assortment planning using historical sales data and category performance.
• Manage product launch calendars and coordinate with logistics and operations for timely product availability.
• Develop merchandising and product marketing strategies to maximize sales and product visibility.
• Monitor product costs, inventory levels, stock turnover, and sell-through rates to optimize purchasing decisions.
• Manage the complete product lifecycle from assortment planning through performance evaluation and product exit.
• Conduct category, SKU, seasonal, and store-level performance analysis and recommend corrective actions.
• Collaborate closely with buying, supply chain, logistics, store operations, and other cross-functional teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or above.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in apparel merchandising or category management within retail chains.
• Strong experience in apparel merchandising, assortment planning, and product selection.
• Experience managing merchandise for a large retail network, preferably around 100 stores or a similar scale.
• Strong understanding of retail operations, supply chain, logistics, and store operations.
• Excellent analytical and commercial skills with the ability to interpret sales and inventory data.
• Proficiency in ERP systems, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Strong communication, coordination, planning, execution, and negotiation skills.
• Experience managing the complete product and category lifecycle is preferred.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with flexibility to travel when required.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Category management and merchandise planning
  • Retail analytics, inventory management, and ERP systems
  • Supply chain, logistics, and apparel retail operations Bachelor's Degree or above in Business Administration, Retail Management, Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, or a related field