Head of Category Management- General Merchandise

PEPCO Poland Sp. z o.o.; Poznań; On-site; PLN 520,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Car

Medical care

Life insurance

Employee discounts

Job summary

Pepco is seeking a Head of Category Management for General Merchandise in Poland. You will define category vision, own performance, and lead cross-functional teams to develop customer-focused assortments and strong supplier partnerships.

You will analyse market trends, drive trading decisions, and contribute to strategic planning across the organisation, with hybrid work and international travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum 9 years of experience in Category Management or Buying with senior leadership responsibility.
• Experience in an international retail environment with multi-country scope.
• Proven ability to define vision, buying strategies, and customer-focused assortments.
• Strong analytical skills to translate data into business decisions.
• Experience in leading and developing teams in a fast-paced retail setting.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and organizational skills.
• Fluent English for business documentation.
• Willingness to travel internationally and hybrid work with 50% office attendance.
• Valid driving licence (Category B).

Responsibilities

• Define and execute short- and long-term category strategy aligned with objectives and customer needs.
• Own category performance: sales, margin, stock, profitability, and commercial results.
• Analyse sales, market trends, and insights to drive assortment, pricing, and trading decisions.
• Lead end-to-end product offer development with Buying, Design, and Garment Technology teams.
• Build strategic supplier partnerships, negotiate terms, and identify cost optimisations.
• Ensure a competitive, customer-focused product offering reflecting brand priorities.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Category Management team with high performance.
• Represent the category in key forums and contribute to strategic decisions.

Skills

Category management

Leadership

Negotiation

Data analytics

Stakeholder management

English fluency

Job description

Head of Category Management- General Merchandise

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Define and execute the short- and long-term category strategy in line with business objectives and customer needs.
• Take ownership of category performance, including sales, margin, stock management, profitability, and commercial results.
• Analyse sales performance, market trends, and customer insights to drive assortment, pricing, and trading decisions.
• Lead the end-to-end product offer development process in close collaboration with Buying, Design, and Garment Technology teams.
• Build and develop strategic supplier partnerships, negotiate commercial terms, and identify cost optimisation opportunities.
• Ensure a competitive, customer-focused, and value-driven product offering that reflects brand priorities.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Category Management team, fostering a high-performance and accountable culture.
• Represent the category in key business forums and contribute to strategic decision-making across the organisation.

Skills and experience we are looking for:

• Minimum 9 years of experience in Category Management or Buying, including senior leadership responsibility for complex, high-volume General Merchandise (GM) categories.
• Proven experience in an international retail environment with responsibility for multiple countries, combined with the ability to influence business decisions and drive category performance across markets.
• Strong track record in defining category vision and developing buying strategies, creating customer-focused assortments and collections, and translating market trends and consumer insights into commercially successful product ranges that drive sales growth and strengthen brand positioning.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data and insights into effective business decisions.
• Experience in leading, developing, and motivating teams in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, stakeholder management, and organisational skills.
• Strong commercial mindset, customer focus, and results-driven approach.
• Fluent English, enabling effective communication and preparation of business documentation.
• Readiness to work in a hybrid model, with a minimum of 50% office attendance.
• Willingness to travel frequently on business, including internationally, and a valid driving licence (Category B).

You are bound to like your job at Pepco because we guarantee:

• Work in an international company featured on the Forbes list of the best employers in Poland and beloved by millions of consumers in Poland and Europe.
• A competitive salary and real opportunities for promotion - the development of our employees is the cornerstone of our strategy!
• Life insurance
• Company Car
• Medical care
• An extensive benefits platform offering a wide range of options - including sports cards, events, trips, shopping vouchers, and more.
• Discounts on purchases at Pepco stores - get your favorite products at even better prices!
• Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning (for IT - Udemy Business), giving you thousands of expert-led courses to support your professional development, build new skills, and learn at your own pace.
• The opportunity to improve language skills by working in an international environment.
• Free psychological, legal, and financial consultations as part of our employee support program -our employees' well-being is our top priority!
• Smart Lunch - meal subsidies for the company canteen, giving access to daily on-site dishes at discounted prices.
• Financial recognition in the form of jubilee awards, additional days off, and loyalty-based discounts for employees celebrating their work anniversaries.
• A social fund providing additional financial support to ensure security and assistance in various life situations.
• A friendly atmosphere and support from colleagues who are eager to share their expert knowledge - despite being a large organization, we’ve maintained a warm, informal atmosphere.
• A role within a unique organizational culture - Pepcoolture - where our mission, vision, and values are the foundation of our everyday work.