Optical Merchandising & Category Strategy Lead

Aster DM Healthcare; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Aster DM Healthcare in Dubai is seeking a seasoned Category Management and Merchandising professional to develop and implement category strategies across frames and accessories. You will forecast demand, plan inventories, and coordinate with stores to optimize assortment and stock levels.

You will lead cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Marketing, Supply Chain, and vendors to maximise sales and profitability while maintaining appealing in-store presentations and planograms.

Qualifications

• Experience in category management and merchandising planning.
• Strong analytical skills to review performance and identify opportunities.
• Proven ability to manage vendor relationships and negotiate with suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes category strategies tailored to store profiles and customer demographics.
• Creates annual/seasonal merchandising plans and forecasts demand and inventory needs.
• Monitors inventory health, reduces aged stock, and optimizes stock across stores.
• Tracks sales metrics, margins, and sell-through; prepares regular performance reports.
• Oversees visual merchandising, planograms, and in-store presentation to maximise sales.
• Manages product ranges across price points; coordinates launches and exclusive ranges.
• Assesses pricing and promotions impact and supports marketing with product selection to protect margins.
• Collaborates with Operations, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Store Managers and IT/BI teams to achieve commercial goals.

Skills

Category management

Merchandising

Forecasting

Vendor management

Analytics

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Aster DM Healthcare in Dubai is seeking a seasoned Category Management and Merchandising professional to develop and implement category strategies across frames and accessories. You will forecast demand, plan inventories, and coordinate with stores to optimize assortment and stock levels.

You will lead cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Marketing, Supply Chain, and vendors to maximise sales and profitability while maintaining appealing in-store presentations and planograms.