Category Senior Manager

Miral; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Miral is seeking an experienced Senior Category Manager for the Retail Shared Services team in the United Arab Emirates. This role involves driving category performance, managing supplier relationships, and delivering innovative merchandise strategies.

The ideal candidate will have 8-10 years of retail buying and product development experience, with proven success in managing multiple categories. Strong analytical and leadership skills are essential for this dynamic position.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in retail buying and product development.
• Strong commercial acumen with an analytical mindset.
• Proficient in managing multiple merchandise categories and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the development of merchandise categories.
• Manage budgets and analyze sales and inventory data.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and partners.

Skills

Retail buying experience

Product development

Supplier management

Budget management

Analytical mindset

Leadership

Microsoft Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification

Tools

Retail systems

Job description

Miral Experiences

Miral Experiences is the region’s leader in the management and operation of world‑class immersive attractions across Abu Dhabi. Our portfolio includes iconic destinations such as Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld, CLYMB, TeamLab Phenomena, and the cultural treasure Qasr Al Watan.

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced Senior Category Manager to join our Retail Shared Services team. Reporting to the Retail Buying Director, you will drive category performance, lead product development initiatives, manage supplier relationships, and deliver innovative merchandise strategies across our portfolio of attractions.

Key Responsibilities

• Category Management & Product Development
  • Own and drive the development of assigned merchandise categories.
  • Lead end‑to‑end product development from concept through production and launch.
  • Manage IP design submissions, sample approvals and production processes through online licensing portals.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and vendors.
  • Work closely with Merchandise Planning teams to manage buy plans and intake schedules.
  • Ensure all products meet UAE regulatory, testing, compliance and audit requirements.
  • Maintain product hierarchy and category structures to support accurate reporting and analysis.
  • Collaborate with Retail Shared Services teams on item creation, pricing, visual merchandising standards and purchase order management.
• Commercial & Financial Performance
  • Manage category budgets, including open‑to‑buy, cost of goods, freight costs and gross profit targets.
  • Analyze sales and inventory data to identify growth opportunities and optimize product performance.
  • Partner with Merchandise Planning and Inventory teams to proactively manage slow‑moving and end‑of‑line stock.
  • Monitor category performance through regular reporting and commercial reviews.
• Strategic Planning
  • Identify market trends, customer preferences and sourcing opportunities to drive innovation and competitiveness.
  • Support annual business planning, events, activations and annual pass initiatives.
  • Identify growth opportunities within assigned categories and contribute to long‑term retail strategies.
• Stakeholder & Partnership Management
  • Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external business partners.
  • Collaborate with IP licensors and brand partners to align merchandise offerings.
  • Ensure effective communication and follow‑up with all stakeholders throughout the product lifecycle.
• Leadership
  • Lead, mentor and develop team members while fostering a collaborative and high‑performing culture.
  • Promote cross‑functional collaboration and teamwork across departments and business units.

Qualifications

• 8‑10 years of experience in retail buying and product development.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification.
• Proven experience managing multiple merchandise categories.
• Strong background in end‑to‑end product development and category management.
• Experience working with suppliers, manufacturers and vendor networks.
• Experience managing budgets, gross profit targets and open‑to‑buy processes.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical mindset.
• Strategic thinker with excellent decision‑making and problem‑solving abilities.
• Proven leadership and people management skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship‑building capabilities.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and retail systems.
• Adaptable and comfortable working in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Preferred experience within theme parks, attractions, entertainment or leisure industries.
• Experience working with licensed brands and intellectual property (IP).
• Experience across GCC retail markets.
• Additional language skills are an advantage.