Senior Manager - Assortment Strategy

Talabat; Dubai; On-site; AED 502,200 - 725,400; Full time

Job summary

Talabat is seeking a Senior Manager – Assortment Strategy in Dubai to lead regional assortment planning and optimization. You will analyze customer demands and improve profitability through informed decision-making across various product assortments.

The role suits a senior leader comfortable influencing stakeholders and leveraging data-driven insights to enhance business performance and inventory efficiency in the fast-paced Q-commerce sector.

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Qualifications

• Proven expertise in category management, assortment strategy, range optimisation, or similar.
• Strong commercial acumen translating customer demand and market trends into decisions.
• Advanced data analytics capability with command of Excel, SQL, and BI tools.

Responsibilities

• Own and evaluate end-to-end assortment performance across all countries.
• Identify assortment gaps and growth areas through analysis of sales trends.
• Define and implement strategies to improve basket value, conversion, retention, and overall customer satisfaction.

Skills

Assortment strategy

Range optimisation

Merchandise Planning and Buying

Category management

SKU lifecycle management

Customer demand analysis

Sales velocity analysis

Basket size improvement

Excel

SQL

Looker

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Job Snapshot

• Role: Senior Manager – Assortment Strategy
• Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Industry: Internet
• Function: Merchandise Planning and Buying
• Experience: Senior experience in category management, assortment strategy, range optimization, grocery, retail, e-commerce or Q-commerce
• Job Type: Full-time

Job Details

Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Dubai
Industry: Internet
Salary: 45,000–65,000 (Estimated range, confirm with employer)
Gender: Any
Nationality: Any

Overview

Senior Manager – Assortment Strategy based in Dubai leads regional assortment planning, range optimization, category performance, SKU lifecycle management, customer demand analysis, and commercial growth for a leading Q-commerce platform.

Ideal for a senior commercial leader who uses data, market insight and stakeholder influence to improve basket size, conversion, retention, profitability and customer satisfaction across multiple operating countries.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and evaluate end‑to‑end assortment performance across all operating countries.
• Identify assortment gaps, customer demand opportunities, category weaknesses and growth areas through deep analysis of sales trends and customer behaviour.
• Define and implement optimisation strategies that improve average basket value, conversion, retention, order volume and customer satisfaction.
• Monitor newly listed SKU performance and recommend country‑specific action plans based on commercial results and customer relevance.
• Lead iteration initiatives to rationalise redundancy, improve productivity, remove duplication and strengthen inventory health.
• Develop liquidation strategies for discontinued, slow‑moving or low‑productivity stock while protecting business value.
• Use search data, customer demand signals, sales velocity, availability and financial performance to guide assortment planning and expansion.
• Oversee customer‑facing categories and back‑end inventory/supply categories to ensure a balanced commercial range.
• Ensure the right mix of brands, suppliers, products and price points for each market based on local demand and market dynamics.
• Refine category strategies using market dynamics, basket behaviour, conversion trends, supplier inputs and operational realities.
• Work closely with local commercial heads, category managers and country teams to align priorities and improve execution discipline.
• Influence country teams to adopt regional assortment initiatives, frameworks and best practices consistently.
• Partner with central teams to improve governance, scalable planning methods and performance review routines.
• Assess the impact of assortment decisions on P&L, cash flow, profitability, inventory exposure and customer experience.
• Lead cross‑functional projects involving Commercial, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Product and senior leadership.
• Navigate ambiguous assortment challenges and convert complex business problems into practical action plans.
• Ensure regional initiatives are implemented on time with clear ownership, measurable outcomes and market‑level follow‑up.

Ideal Profile

• Proven expertise in category management, assortment strategy, range optimisation, merchandise planning or buying within grocery, retail, e‑commerce or Q‑commerce.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate customer demand, supplier dynamics and market trends into profitable decisions.
• Advanced data analytics capability with command of Excel, SQL and BI tools such as Looker, Power BI, Tableau or similar platforms.
• Deep understanding of customer behaviour, shopping missions, basket dynamics, search demand, SKU availability and conversion drivers.
• Experience building scalable assortment frameworks across multiple markets, store formats, clusters or regional business units.
• Strong knowledge of rationalisation methods including productivity analysis, duplication removal, substitution logic, lifecycle management and slow‑moving stock control.
• AI‑fluent mindset with the ability to use automation, predictive tools and emerging technologies to improve commercial decision‑making.
• High ownership mentality with the ability to lead ambiguous and high‑impact initiatives from diagnosis to execution.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills across Commercial, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Product, category teams and senior leadership.
• Strong communication and executive storytelling skills with the ability to simplify complex assortment topics into decision‑ready recommendations.
• Comfortable balancing long‑term strategic projects with weekly business performance management.
• Experience in MENA or multi‑market regional environments is preferred.
• Able to work in a fast‑paced Q‑commerce environment where assortment decisions influence both customer experience and financial outcomes.

Skills Set

• Assortment strategy
• Range optimisation
• Merchandise Planning and Buying
• Category management
• SKU lifecycle management
• Grocery assortment
• Q‑commerce assortment
• Retail category planning
• Customer demand analysis
• Sales velocity analysis
• Basket size improvement
• ABV optimisation
• Conversion improvement
• Retention strategy
• Assortment rationalisation
• Inventory health
• Slow‑moving stock liquidation
• Discontinued stock management
• Search demand analysis
• Supplier mix planning
• Brand mix planning
• Category performance analysis
• Excel
• SQL
• Looker
• Power BI
• Tableau
• BI reporting
• P&L impact analysis
• Cash flow awareness
• Profitability analysis
• Cross‑market frameworks
• Stakeholder management
• Executive storytelling
• AI‑driven commercial planning
• Predictive tools
• Process improvement
• Multi‑market execution

Why Join Us

This role offers the opportunity to influence one of the most important growth levers within Dubai’s fast‑moving Internet and Q‑commerce sector. The Senior Manager – Assortment Strategy will shape how customers discover, choose and purchase everyday products across tMart markets while improving profitability, inventory efficiency and commercial execution.

It is a strong opportunity for a senior assortment and category leader who wants to drive regional impact, work with senior stakeholders and modernise commercial decision‑making through data, automation and scalable frameworks.

About the Company

talabat is a leading food delivery and Q‑commerce platform operating as part of Delivery Hero Group. The company connects customers, restaurants, local shops, grocery partners, riders and commercial teams through technology‑driven delivery services across the region. In Dubai, talabat’s tMart business focuses on fast grocery fulfilment, relevant product selection, reliable operations and everyday convenience for customers across regional markets.