Trainee Category Manager

Guardian Health & Beauty; Singapore; On-site; SGD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health and beauty retailer in Singapore is seeking a Category Executive to support strategic plans for assigned categories. You will enhance market share, ensure effective promotional execution, and provide analytical support to the team. The ideal candidate should have 1-3 years of relevant experience and a diploma or degree in Business, Marketing, or Retail Management. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, is essential. This role offers an opportunity to work collaboratively across teams in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience in category management or retail operations.
• Familiarity with pricing strategy and planograms is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support development of strategic plans for category management.
• Achieve sales and profit goals through market trend analysis.
• Prepare sales reports and performance analyses for managers.
• Collaborate with marketing on promotional initiatives.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Proficient in Microsoft Office

Ability to interpret sales data

Coordination with cross-functional teams

Education

Diploma or Degree in Business, Marketing, Retail Management

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Reporting to the Senior Category Manager, you will support the development and implementation of strategic plans for assigned categories within a structured category management framework. The role aims to achieve the company’s financial and business objectives by improving market share, customer satisfaction, and overall productivity.

You will provide administrative and analytical support to the team, ensuring timely and accurate reporting to management. This role requires close coordination with suppliers, operations, and marketing to ensure smooth execution of product listings, pricing, and promotional activities.

Principal Accountabilities

Category Management

• Achieve sales, profit, and income goals for assigned categories through continuous market trend analysis.
• Develop strategies to grow market share and strengthen category positioning.
• Plan and execute promotional initiatives to drive excitement and incremental store sales.
• Implement effective placement and planogram strategies to optimize turnover and enhance customer shopping experience.
• Formulate and execute competitive pricing strategies that deliver strong value propositions to customers.
• Maintain robust inventory management processes to ensure optimal product mix, minimize shrinkage, and align with customer needs.

E-Commerce and Atrium Support

• Drive e-commerce category sales and support atrium or site activation activities to strengthen category visibility and overall business performance.
• Support the development and execution of e-commerce strategies to achieve sales objectives.
• Assist in planning, coordination, and execution of atrium, site activation, and other marketing activities to reinforce category awareness and brand presence.
• Collaborate with Marketing team, Operations and vendors to ensure cohesive, consistent, and timely execution of all promotional and category initiatives.

Administrative and Analytical Support

• Prepare store bulletins and letters of authorization for vendors.
• Generate sales reports and performance analyses for the Merchandise managers and Category Managers.
• Consolidate and manage promotion listings, including securing vendor support and updating promotional tools.
• Prepare presentation materials for BMO meetings.
• Able to work with tight timelines, especially during promotional periods or major campaigns.

Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma or Degree in Business, Marketing, Retail Management or a related field.
• 1–3 years of experience in category management, merchandising, buying, retail operations, or FMCG environment.

Technical / Functional Skills

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data, market trends, and customer insights.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Table) and PowerPoint for reporting and presentations.
• Familiarity with planograms, category planning, or pricing strategy is a plus.
• Able to coordinate cross-functional activities involving suppliers, operations, and marketing teams.