Beauty Category Lead, Build a New E‑commerce Vertical

talabat; Kuwait City; On-site; KWD 12,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

talabat is seeking a Category Manager to spearhead its new standalone Beauty vertical across the MENA region. You will own the category from strategy to assortment, pricing, promotions, and performance, partnering with suppliers to build a compelling portfolio.

Ideal candidates bring 3+ years in beauty category management, strong commercial acumen, and an entrepreneurial mindset to launch a high-impact vertical in one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in category management, buying, or commercial roles within the beauty industry.
• Experience with beauty retailers/e-commerce platforms or distributors in international/regional settings.
• Strong knowledge of the MENA beauty market and consumer trends.
• Solid commercial acumen: margin calculations, P&L, promotions ROI, and supplier negotiations.
• Entrepreneurial mindset comfortable with ambiguity and building a new vertical.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end category management for the Beauty vertical (skincare, cosmetics, haircare, fragrance, personal care).
• Define and execute the beauty category strategy aligned with commercial goals and regional trends.
• Monitor and drive KPIs: sales, gross margin, P&L, conversion, basket size.
• Curate beauty assortment across mass-market, premium, and emerging brands for MENA consumers.
• Identify and onboard local and regional suppliers and negotiate terms (pricing, rebates, payment terms, exclusivities).
• Collaborate with regional teams to align on international brand contracts and ensure portfolio consistency across markets.
• Translate beauty trends (clean beauty, K-beauty, halal-certified) into actionable assortment decisions.
• Define pricing strategy in line with benchmarks and promotions; conduct market price audits.

Skills

Category management

Buying

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Entrepreneurial mindset

Attention to detail

Communication

Job description

talabat is seeking a Category Manager to spearhead its new standalone Beauty vertical across the MENA region. You will own the category from strategy to assortment, pricing, promotions, and performance, partnering with suppliers to build a compelling portfolio.

Ideal candidates bring 3+ years in beauty category management, strong commercial acumen, and an entrepreneurial mindset to launch a high-impact vertical in one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets.