Director, Category Management

Job description:

At Sephora we inspire our customers, empower our teams, and help them become the best versions of themselves. We create an environment where people are valued, and differences are celebrated. Every day, our teams across the world bring to life our purpose: to expand the way the world sees beauty by empowering the ExtraOrdinary in each of us.

We are united by a common goal - to reimagine the future of beauty.

Sephora SEA’s omni channel business spans over 8 countries (Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand) with 100+ stores and boasts some global flagships such as ION and Raffles City in Singapore, F88 in Kuala Lumpur and Pitt Street in Sydney. Sephora SEA is experiencing rapid growth in the region with new store openings and business channels (i.e., Click and collect and marketplace).

The opportunity:

Director, Category Management

As a Director, Category Management, you will lead and define category strategy to optimise growth, trends, and white space, driving maximum growth, space productivity, profitability, and strong 360 campaigns for category penetration. You will manage the brand portfolio to drive differentiation, prioritising Surge and Exclusive brands while balancing strategic partnerships with key selective brand groups. This role includes managing supplier relationships, commercial negotiations, joint business planning (including animations), assortment optimisation, productivity, clear pricing principles, and a robust calendar for existing brands and new brand launches. Additionally, you will collaborate with Supply Chain for effective planning and forecasting.

You will shine here if you enjoy...

• Defining and leading SEA category strategy for defined categories based on market trends, consumer insights, and sales data, to identify white space, optimize growth, space productivity, profitability and strong 360 campaigns to support key natures to gain category penetration.
• Negotiating, influencing, and managing communication with Market Merchandising teams to ensure effective collaboration in implementing category strategy.
• Leading brand portfolio by driving differentiation with priority on Surge and Exclusive brands.
• Balancing strategic partnerships with key selective brand groups as well as building and maintaining strong supplier relationships.
• Leading commercial negotiations.
• Conducting joint business planning (including animations), optimizing assortment and productivity, and establishing clear pricing principles.
• Developing a robust calendar of existing brands and planning meaningful and incremental new brand launches.
• Full management responsibility including the management of a team of managers and professionals, planning for the team’s future needs and operations.
• Ensuring the team’s performance, development, succession, and career advancement plans are in place through regular talent reviews and collaboration.
• Collaborating with Supply Chain on effective planning and forecasting to achieve brand targets and healthy stock levels.

We would love to hear from you if you are/have…

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, or a related field, MBA would be an advantage.
• Strong experience in category management, retail buying, or a related field.
• Experience in building category strategies based on market trends, consumer insights, and data analytics.
• Proven track record in developing and implementing category strategies to drive growth, profitability, and market penetration.
• Experience in managing brand portfolios, including supplier relationships, commercial negotiations, and joint business planning.
• Proficiency in negotiation of complex commercial agreements.
• Strong background in assortment optimization, pricing strategies, and managing product lifecycles.
• Experience in collaborating with Supply Chain teams for effective planning and forecasting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor and coach teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present effectively to senior stakeholders.
• Solid understanding of budgeting, financial analysis, and P&L management.
• Ability to effectively drive change and innovation with a customer-centric approach.
• Stakeholder management and influencing skills in a multi-cultural environment.

While at Sephora, you’ll enjoy...

• The people. You will be surrounded by some of the most talented leaders and teams – people you can be proud to work with.
• The learning. We invest in training and developing our teams, and you will continue evolving and building your skills through personalized career plans.
• The culture. As a leading beauty retailer, backed by the LVMH luxury brand, our reach is broad and our impact is global. Yet there’s always room to explore. It’s in the Sephora DNA to champion a world of inspiration and inclusion where everyone can celebrate their beauty.

You can unleash your creativity, because we’ve got disruptive spirit. You can learn and evolve, because we empower you to be your best. You can be yourself, because you are what sets us apart. This, is the future of beauty. Reimagine your future, at Sephora.

Sephora is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace for all. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, advancement, or other employment practices. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating and fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.