Senior Private Label Category Leader (Dubai)

GMG Gulf; Dubai; On-site; AED 334,800 - 502,200; Full time

Job summary

GMG Gulf in Dubai is seeking an experienced Category Manager - Private Label to lead strategic development of private label categories. You will build competitive assortments, manage sourcing, pricing, promotions and lifecycle, and collaborate with procurement, finance, marketing and supply chain to optimize margins.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in private label development and category management, with at least 5 years in leadership, and strong Excel/PowerPoint and ERP skills.

Qualifications

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Responsibilities

• Develop and execute private label category strategies that support sales, margin and growth targets.
• Own the category plan across assortment, sourcing, pricing, promotion, innovation and product lifecycle management.
• Identify, evaluate and onboard suppliers meeting commercial, quality and product development requirements.
• Build collaborative supplier relationships that encourage reliable delivery, competitive pricing and continuous innovation.
• Lead procurement activities and sourcing projects for assigned product categories.
• Negotiate supplier agreements covering pricing, service levels, quality standards, payment terms and performance expectations.
• Ensure supplier contracts remain commercially favourable and compliant with internal governance requirements.
• Establish supplier objectives and measurable KPIs for cost, quality, availability, innovation and delivery.
• Review supplier performance regularly and implement corrective actions where targets are not achieved.
• Manage private label product development from concept, sourcing and costing through approval, launch and shelf placement.
• Work with internal teams to ensure products meet brand, packaging, quality and regulatory expectations.
• Monitor sales, gross margin, stock movement, availability and category profitability.
• Prepare accurate forecasts, commercial plans and recommendations based on performance drivers.
• Analyse customer behaviour, competitor activity, market trends and emerging product opportunities.
• Use data to improve product assortment, pricing architecture and promotional planning.
• Identify underperforming products and recommend range changes, repositioning or discontinuation.
• Prepare clear presentations and business cases for senior stakeholders, suppliers and external partners.
• Maintain effective coordination across commercial, finance, supply chain, marketing and operational teams.
• Manage competing projects and deadlines while ensuring agreed milestones are achieved.
• Provide leadership, coaching and direction to category team members.
• Set individual objectives and performance targets aligned with wider organizational goals.
• Monitor team progress, resolve operational challenges and support professional development.
• Build a performance‑focused culture based on accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Complete additional commercial and category responsibilities assigned by management.

Skills

Private label development

FMCG retail buying

Category strategy

Assortment planning

Product lifecycle management

Supplier sourcing

Supplier relationship management

Contract negotiation

ERP platforms

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Team leadership

Performance management

Tools

ERP platforms

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

GMG Gulf in Dubai is seeking an experienced Category Manager - Private Label to lead strategic development of private label categories. You will build competitive assortments, manage sourcing, pricing, promotions and lifecycle, and collaborate with procurement, finance, marketing and supply chain to optimize margins.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in private label development and category management, with at least 5 years in leadership, and strong Excel/PowerPoint and ERP skills.