Senior Category Manager - Gaming and Lifestyle

Officeworks Ltd; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discounts

Benefits program

Flexible public holidays

Learning & development

Career opportunities

Job summary

Officeworks Ltd in Chadstone, VIC is seeking a Senior Category Manager for Gaming and Lifestyle to lead a dynamic, high-growth portfolio and Shape products, brands and experiences that excite customers. You will identify trends, build strategic supplier partnerships and deliver strong commercial results with cross-functional influence.

You will own category strategy, drive profitability, and coach a high-performing team in a fast-paced retail environment.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Category Management, Merchandise or Buying in retail.
• Proven track record delivering sales, margin and market share growth.
• Strong P&L and financial target delivery experience.
• Ability to build strategic supplier partnerships for long-term value.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver category sales, margin and EBIT targets across a complex portfolio.
• Develop category strategies, business plans and trade plans to drive growth.
• Lead supplier negotiations and strategic partnerships.
• Identify trends to deliver innovative products and category solutions.
• Collaborate with Planning, Marketing, eCommerce, Supply Chain, Finance and Ops.
• Coach and develop a high-performing category team.

Skills

Category management

Merchandise strategy

Buying

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Data literacy

Commercial acumen

Education

Commerce / Business / Marketing / Economics / Finance degree

Job description

Title: Senior Category Manager - Gaming and Lifestyle

Location: Chadstone, VIC, AU

About us

At Officeworks we make bigger things happen. Our customers, our team, and our community are our heart and soul. And if our brilliant people have taught us anything, it is that we can do all kinds of incredible things, each and every day.

Fast paced. Innovative. Inspiring. With close to 10,000 team members and a national footprint of more than 173 retail stores Australia wide – we’re focused on delivering a wide range, low price and great service. We’re about inspiring new ideas and thinking outside the box. We’re about kicking goals, having a laugh and pushing each other. We are about being rewarded and supported. We’re about teaching a customer something new and supporting the community. We’re about making a difference.

About the role

Gaming, technology and lifestyle are evolving faster than ever, and we're looking for a Senior Category Manager who's ready to lead from the front.

This is an opportunity to owner one of Officeworks' most dynamic and high-growth portfolios, shaping the products, brands and experiences that excite our customers and keep us ahead of the market. From identifying emerging trends and bringing new innovations to life, to building strategic supplier partnerships and delivering strong commercial results, you'll have the autonomy and influence to make a real impact.

If you're passionate about category leadership, customer insights and turning opportunities into growth, this is your chance to help define what's next.

What You'll Do

• Own and deliver category sales, margin and EBIT targets across a complex portfolio.
• Develop and execute category strategies, business plans, range reviews and trade plans that drive sustainable growth.
• Build and manage strategic supplier partnerships, leading commercial negotiations and driving mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Identify customer, market and industry trends to deliver innovative products, services and category solutions.
• Partner with cross-functional teams including Planning, Marketing, eCommerce, Supply Chain, Finance and Operations to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing category team, creating an environment focused on growth, accountability and continuous improvement.

#LI-MR1, #LI-HYBRID

About you

You're a commercially minded leader who knows how to balance strategy with execution. You thrive in a fast-paced retail environment, enjoy turning insights into action, and bring a customer-first mindset to every decision.

You build strong relationships, influence with confidence, and have a proven ability to lead teams through change while delivering outstanding commercial results. You're naturally curious, passionate about innovation, and always looking for new opportunities to strengthen your category's performance and customer proposition.

What You'll Bring

• Significant experience in Category Management, Merchandise, Buying or a related commercial leadership role within a large retail or consumer-focused business.
• 10+ years' experience within retail, merchandise or category management environments.
• Proven success developing and executing category strategies that deliver sales, margin, EBIT and market share growth.
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience managing complex category P&Ls and delivering financial targets.
• Demonstrated ability to build and negotiate strategic supplier partnerships that create long-term value.
• Strong analytical and data literacy skills, with the ability to leverage customer insights, market trends and performance metrics to inform decision-making.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple business functions.
• Proven experience leading, developing and coaching high-performing teams.
• A strong understanding of customer behaviour, market trends, product innovation and category growth opportunities.
• Tertiary qualifications in Commerce, Business, Marketing, Economics, Finance or a related discipline.
• Experience with national and international sourcing environments will be highly regarded.

Our culture

If you’re searching for an organisation that’s truly committed to its people, where you can thrive in a culture of togetherness, then join Officeworks and let’s make bigger things happen – for all of us! We celebrate our teams’ uniqueness by offering genuine team member benefits to the Officeworks family:

• We’re all about giving you the flexibility you need to keep things balanced to suit your individual needs.
• Enjoy generous discounts across Officeworks, Geeks2U, Bunnings, Kmart, Target and the wider Wesfarmers brands.
• Access to our Officeworks benefits program for exclusive discounts and perks across entertainment, travel, lifestyle, and health.
• Our Growing Families Policy supports team members during the exciting and challenging times of expanding their family
• We prioritise safety, mental health and wellbeing, offering access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as well as other ongoing programs
• Our Flexible Public Holidays Policy supports those who observe cultural or religious holidays different from the standard public holidays in Australia
• Take advantage of outstanding learning and development programs to support your career growth
• Explore fantastic career opportunities across the broader Wesfarmers Group.

At Officeworks, we operate best when our team represents the communities we serve. We proudly commit to providing a safe and supportive work environment for our team. We encourage applications from all candidates of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), people with disabilities, and the LGBTQI+ community.