Commercial Manager

MST Golf Group Berhad; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading golf company is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to lead category strategy and supplier partnerships. Ideal candidates should have a strong background in Apparel, Footwear, Equipment, or Accessories, and demonstrate excellent negotiation skills. Responsibilities include managing budgets, analyzing market trends, and driving growth within the golf industry. Candidates must hold a relevant degree and have significant experience in retail buying and category management. This position offers an exciting opportunity to influence product strategy and commercial success.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–8 years of experience in retail buying or category management.
• Proven ability to analyze market trends and make data-driven decisions.
• Experience negotiating cost, margins, and exclusivity with brand partners.

Responsibilities

• Monitor global and regional market trends for actionable strategies.
• Manage sales, purchase, and inventory budgets for the category.
• Negotiate favorable commercial terms with brands.

Skills

Commercial Acumen

Analytical Skills

Negotiation & Supplier Management

Planning & Execution

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Leadership & Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, Commerce, Marketing, Retail Management, or a related field

Tools

MS Office

ERP or retail management systems

Job description

We are seeking an experienced, commercially driven Commercial Manager with expertise in Apparel, Footwear, Equipment, or Accessories to lead category strategy and supplier partnerships. This role is ideal for a strategic leader with deep market insight, strong negotiation skills, and a passion for driving growth within the golf industry.

Key Responsibilities

Market & Product Leadership

• Monitor global and regional market trends, product innovation cycles, consumer demand shifts, and major product types.
• Translate industry insights into actionable buying strategies, ensuring a timing advantage for product launches and replenishments.

Budget Ownership

• Manage assigned Sales, Purchase, Inventory, Margin, and Contribution budgets for the category.
• Approve budget reallocations across category groups as needed.
• Initiates buy slowdowns, re-phasing, or temporary purchase freezes to align with market conditions and risk tolerance.

Category Buy Plan Management

• Consolidate all categories buy plans into a comprehensive demand view.
• Challenge Category Managers on product strategy, mix, and assortment depth/width decisions.
• Ensure total category buys align with market conditions, commercial strategy, and risk appetite.

Purchase Timing & Capital Efficiency

• Own purchase phasing and commitment timing for the category.
• Optimize cash flow, inventory freshness, and markdown risk through strategic purchase planning.

Principal & Brand Negotiation

• Support the Head of Commercial in evaluating market trends, product potential, and purchase forecasts for brands.
• Participate in negotiations to ensure favourable commercial terms, exclusivity, and brand alignment.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Commerce, Marketing, Retail Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 5–8 years of experience in retail buying, category management, or commercial management within Apparel, Footwear, Equipment & Accessories. Experience managing budgets, supplier relationships, and multi-brand categories is essential.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of category P&L, sales, margin, inventory, and contribution management. Ability to split budgets and stock by brand and subcategory.
• Analytical Skills: Proven ability to analyse market trends, sales performance, stock levels, and consumer demand to make data-driven decisions.
• Negotiation & Supplier Management: Demonstrated experience negotiating cost, margins, trading terms, and exclusivity with brand partners.
• Planning & Execution: Experience in range planning, distribution strategies, and stock movement management across locations and channels.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with Planning, Allocation, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, E-commerce, and Store Operations teams.
• Leadership & Communication: Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills to influence internal teams and external partners.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in MS Office; familiarity with ERP or retail management systems is preferred.
• Personal Attributes: Strategic thinker, commercially minded, results-oriented, with a passion for the Apparel, Footwear, Equipment or Accessories category.