Category Manager

Officially Ethos; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 1,000,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Officially Ethos in India is seeking a seasoned Category Manager to drive category growth and profitability through strategic assortment planning, pricing, and promotions. You will own brand P&L, build vendor relationships, and onboard new brands while overseeing product lifecycle and inventory optimization.

You will collaborate cross-functionally with supply chain, marketing, finance, and operations, using data insights to hit sales, margin, and customer satisfaction targets.

Qualifications

• Min Graduate degree in any related field, luxury retail courses.
• Min 5 years of experience in Luxury retail, fashion, or related industry.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business goals and customer needs.
• Conduct market analysis, trend spotting, and competitor benchmarking.
• Define assortment strategies to maximize sales, profit and customer experience.
• Collaborate with marketing and supply chain to align promotions and availability.
• Oversee product lifecycle and supplier performance to optimize margins.
• Lead onboarding of new brands including due diligence and contract terms.
• Partner with store operations/e-commerce for placement and presentation.
• Monitor KPIs, ROI of promotions, and adjust strategies accordingly.

Skills

Category planning

Assortment management

P&L management

Vendor relationships

Pricing strategy

Data analytics

Cross-functional collaboration

Merchandising

Education

Graduate degree

Job description

Responsible for driving category growth and profitability through effective assortment planning, pricing, and promotional strategies. Manages Brand P&L, builds strong Brand/Vendor relationships, and leads Onboarding of New Brands. Oversees product lifecycle, ensures optimal inventory and merchandising execution, and collaborates cross-functionally with supply chain, marketing, finance, and operations. Uses data insights and market trends to deliver sales, margin, and customer satisfaction targets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with overall business goals and customer needs.
• Conduct market analysis, trend spotting, and competitor benchmarking to identify opportunities.
• Define assortment strategies (breadth, depth, product mix) to maximize sales, profit, and customer experience.
• Collaborate with marketing and supply chain to align promotions and availability.

Assortment & Product Lifecycle

• Select and curate product ranges to meet customer demand and profitability targets.
• Oversee product lifecycle management - from new product introduction to end-of-life decisions.
• Ensure balance between core, seasonal, and innovative product lines.
• Monitor performance of SKUs and recommend rationalization where needed.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors and suppliers.
• Negotiate costs, terms, and service-level agreements to optimize margins.
• Work with suppliers to co-create promotions, exclusive launches, and marketing campaigns.
• Manage supplier performance, compliance, and quality standards.
• Develop pricing strategies that balance competitiveness, margin, and brand positioning.
• Collaborate with marketing teams to design promotional plans (campaigns, discounts, bundles).
• Track category performance against sales, margin, and profitability targets.
• Analyze ROI of promotions and adjust strategies accordingly.

Data Analytics & Insights

• Use sales data, market research, and customer insights to guide decision-making.
• Monitor category KPIs (sell-through, GMROI, margin %, inventory turnover).
• Identify gaps in assortment, pricing, or supply chain and recommend corrective actions.
• Provide regular performance reports to senior management.
• Manage full brand/category P&L, ensuring delivery of sales, margin, and profitability targets.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors and brand partners.
• Lead brand onboarding process - including due diligence, contract negotiation, and commercial terms setup.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with supply chain on demand planning, inventory management, and replenishment.
• Work with store operations/e-commerce teams to ensure effective product placement and presentation.
• Collaborate with marketing on campaigns, merchandising guidelines, and category storytelling.
• Align with finance on forecasting, budgeting, and margin targets.

Customer-Centric Merchandising

• Continuously assess customer needs and feedback to refine assortment and merchandising approach.
• Implement visual merchandising guidelines to enhance in-store and online shopping experience.
• Drive innovation in category offerings to stay relevant and competitive.
• Expertise in category planning & assortment management
• Excellent collaboration & communication

Qualifications & Experience

• Min Graduate degree any related field, luxury retail courses.
• Min 5 years of experience in Luxury retail, fashion, or a related industry.