Assistant Category Manager

MR DIY TRADING SDN BHD; Seri Kembangan; On-site; MYR 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in retail is seeking an Assistant Manager for its Category Management team. This role involves strategic sourcing support, new product development, and cross-functional collaboration to enhance sourcing strategies and supplier partnerships.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of experience in procurement or category support.
• Understanding of category dynamics and sourcing principles.
• Ability to handle high-volume data accurately.

Responsibilities

• Support sourcing strategies and proposal evaluations.
• Conduct data analysis for sourcing plans and supplier optimization.
• Coordinate product development and compliance documentation.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Collaboration

Detail-oriented

Education

Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

MR DIY International brings high-quality, affordable products to customers worldwide, building on its proud beginnings in Malaysia. Over the years, MR DIY has grown into a trusted household name with a global footprint of more than 4,000 stores across Asia, Europe, and beyond—including key markets such as Turkey, Spain, Poland, Bangladesh, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, India, and Cambodia.

With a dedicated team of over 20,000 employees, MR DIY International serves more than 80 million customers annually. The company is committed to delivering exceptional value and convenience, making everyday essentials and innovative products accessible to communities everywhere.

Job Summary

We are seeking a meticulous and responsive Assistant Manager to join

our Category Management team. This role plays a key part in shaping sourcing strategies

across trading goods categories by providing analytical support, validating proposals, and

ensuring alignment with category direction and business objectives.

This position is critical in supporting category managers with data-driven insights, proposal

evaluations, and strategy planning inputs that guide sourcing decisions and long-term supplier partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing Support & Proposal Evaluation

• Ensure alignment of purchasing activities with sourcing strategies, commercial goals, and category direction.
• Conduct internal data analysis to support long-term sourcing plans, supplier base optimization, and risk management.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders including planning, merchandising, and other category owners to support holistic category strategies.

New Product Development (NPD)

• Work closely with the category team to identify market needs, trends, and assortment gaps.
• Coordinate with local teams and suppliers on product concept development, customization, and innovation opportunities.
• Track samples, testing phases, and product approvals to ensure timely progression of new items.
• Support in drafting product specifications, coordinating packaging design, and ensuring proper labelling.
• Create and maintain OEM handbooks tailored for regional markets (e.g., Europe).

OEM Supplier Coordination

• Liaise with local team & supplier on product customization (e.g., materials, design tweaks).
• Ensure alignment on key supply terms including MOQ, pricing, lead time, and quality standards.
• Monitor the development timeline of samples and proactively address potential
• issues or delays.

Costing & Margin Analysis

• Ensure the collection and comparison of cost breakdowns from multiple suppliers for benchmarking.
• Support local teams in identifying cost-saving opportunities such as alternative materials or product specifications.
• Maintain internal costing and margin tracking sheets to support pricing and profitability analysis.

Documentation & Compliance

• Ensure all products meet relevant local market regulations and compliance standards (e.g., CE marking, safety certification).
• Organize and maintain up-to-date records for product specifications, test reports, certifications, and compliance documentation.

Cross-Functional Support & Communication

• Act as a bridge between the sourcing and category management functions to ensure smooth product development-to-shelf transitions.
• Assist in preparing presentations and reports for product reviews and management updates.

Job Requirements

• Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, or a related discipline.
• 2–5 years of experience in procurement, category support, merchandising analytics, or supply chain planning within a retail or consumer goods environment.
• Strong commercial and analytical thinking, with an understanding of category dynamics and sourcing principles.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills across cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to handle high-volume data and maintain accuracy under tight timelines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and familiar with procurement or planning systems.
• Able to work in a fast-paced, evolving retail landscape.