Category Manager (Pharmaceutical Industry)

HTM PHARMACY GROUP; Ipoh; On-site; MYR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

HTM Pharmacy is seeking an experienced Category Manager to lead the growth and performance of pharmacy, pharmaceutical and healthcare product categories. You will develop category strategies, optimise product assortment, manage suppliers, and improve sales and margins while supporting promotional activities and ensuring healthy inventory levels.

You will collaborate with Retail, Sales, Marketing, Operations and suppliers to identify market opportunities, introduce new products and drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Science or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Category Management, Purchasing, Merchandising, Procurement or related commercial role.
• Experience in pharmacy retail, pharmaceutical, healthcare, OTC, consumer healthcare, FMCG or retail is highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of category management, product assortment, pricing, promotions, supplier management and inventory management.
• Demonstrated experience in supplier negotiation and commercial relationship management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret sales, margin and inventory data.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel; ERP, BI or retail analytics systems will be an advantage.
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercially driven with the ability to translate market and category insights into actionable business strategies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies to drive sales growth, profitability and market competitiveness.
• Manage end-to-end category lifecycle, including product assortment, pricing, promotions, product launches and product performance.
• Analyse sales, margin, stock movement and category trends to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Review slow-moving, non-performing and obsolete products and improve inventory performance.
• Monitor market trends, customer preferences and competitor activities to identify new products and category opportunities.
• Collaborate with Retail, Sales, Marketing, Operations and suppliers to identify market opportunities and drive growth.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Science or related discipline

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Category Manager (Pharmaceutical Industry)

We are looking for an experienced Category Manager to lead the growth and performance of assigned pharmacy, pharmaceutical and healthcare product categories.

In this role, you will be responsible for developing category strategies, optimising product assortment, managing suppliers, improving sales and margins, supporting promotional activities, and ensuring healthy inventory levels.

You will work closely with Retail, Sales, Marketing, Operations and suppliers to identify market opportunities, introduce new products and drive sustainable category growth.

Key Responsibilities

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Category Manager to lead the growth and performance of assigned pharmacy, pharmaceutical and healthcare product categories.

In this role, you will be responsible for developing category strategies, optimising product assortment, managing suppliers, improving sales and margins, supporting promotional activities, and ensuring healthy inventory levels.

You will work closely with Retail, Sales, Marketing, Operations and suppliers to identify market opportunities, introduce new products and drive sustainable category growth.

Key Responsibilities

Category Management & Commercial Strategy

• Develop and execute category strategies to drive sales growth, profitability and market competitiveness.
• Manage the end-to‑end category lifecycle, including product assortment, pricing, promotions, product launches and product performance.
• Analyse sales, margin, stock movement and category trends to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Review slow-moving, non‑performing and obsolete products and implement appropriate actions to improve inventory performance.
• Monitor market trends, customer preferences and competitor activities to identify new products and category opportunities.
• Recommend new and competitive pharmaceutical, pharmacy, healthcare, OTC, wellness or consumer healthcare products where relevant.

Merchandising & Promotional Planning

• Develop product assortment and merchandising strategies based on customer demand and category performance.
• Work with Marketing and Retail teams to plan and execute promotions, seasonal campaigns and tactical activities.
• Recommend products, pricing and promotional mechanics to maximise category sales and profitability.
• Monitor promotional performance and provide recommendations for future campaigns.

Supplier & Vendor Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with pharmaceutical, healthcare and consumer product suppliers.
• Lead supplier negotiations covering pricing, trading terms, payment terms, rebates, promotions and commercial agreements.
• Evaluate supplier performance and identify opportunities for improved cost efficiency and commercial returns.
• Source and evaluate new suppliers and products to strengthen the category portfolio.

Inventory & Purchasing Management

• Monitor inventory levels, product availability and stock turnover to maintain healthy inventory performance.
• Coordinate purchasing and replenishment activities to minimise out-of-stock and overstock situations.
• Work with suppliers and internal teams to improve demand planning and product availability.
• Identify opportunities to reduce inventory holding costs and improve working capital efficiency.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Retail, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Finance and Supply Chain teams to achieve category objectives.
• Provide regular category performance reports, insights and recommendations to management.
• Support new product launches, business expansion and other strategic commercial projects.
• Participate in ad hoc projects related to category growth and business development.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Category sales growth
• Gross margin and profitability improvement
• Improved product availability and reduced out-of-stock rate
• Improved stock turnover and inventory efficiency
• Reduction of slow-moving and obsolete inventory
• Successful new product launches
• Supplier cost savings and improved trading terms
• Promotional and campaign performance
• Growth of strategic product categories

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Science or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Category Management, Purchasing, Merchandising, Procurement or a related commercial role.
• Experience in pharmacy retail, pharmaceutical, healthcare, OTC, consumer healthcare, FMCG or retail is highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of category management, product assortment, pricing, promotions, supplier management and inventory management.
• Demonstrated experience in supplier negotiation and commercial relationship management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret sales, margin and inventory data.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel; experience with ERP, BI or retail analytics systems will be an advantage.
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercially driven with the ability to translate market and category insights into actionable business strategies.

Why Join Us?

• Take ownership of key pharmacy and healthcare product categories.
• Opportunity to influence sales, profitability, product assortment and category strategy.
• Work closely with suppliers and cross-functional teams across the business.
• Play an important role in new product launches, promotions and business expansion.
• Develop your commercial expertise within the growing pharmacy and healthcare retail industry.

HTM Pharmacy is a Health & Wellness Pharmacy that strives to increase the lifespan and improve the physical & emotional wellbeing of middle-aged & senior citizens by providing high touch & personalized discover, records, monitoring & solutions (DRMS™).

Our Purpose: To help Malaysians age beautifully and excitingly with great physical & emotional health.

Our Vision: A Malaysia which stands among the top 10 countries with the healthiest population and longest life expectancy in the world.

Our Mission: To increase the productive lifespan and improve the physical & emotional wellbeing of middle-aged and senior citizens by:

1) Providing comprehensive health care and prevention through Discover,

2) Collecting and interpreting environmental, health and lifestyle data and trends.

3) Inspiring people to live a healthy, exciting and empowering lifestyle.

HTM Pharmacy is a Health & Wellness Pharmacy that strives to increase the lifespan and improve the physical & emotional wellbeing of middle-aged & senior citizens by providing high touch & personalized discover, records, monitoring & solutions (DRMS™).

Our Purpose: To help Malaysians age beautifully and excitingly with great physical & emotional health.

Our Vision: A Malaysia which stands among the top 10 countries with the healthiest population and longest life expectancy in the world.

Our Mission: To increase the productive lifespan and improve the physical & emotional wellbeing of middle-aged and senior citizens by:

1) Providing comprehensive health care and prevention through Discover,

2) Collecting and interpreting environmental, health and lifestyle data and trends.

3) Inspiring people to live a healthy, exciting and empowering lifestyle.