Category Specialist

Derimod; Fatih; On-site; TRY 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Derimod is seeking a Category Specialist to join the Category team and help build trend-driven footwear collections that meet customer expectations. The role sits where data meets product; you will read the numbers, follow trends, work with suppliers, and translate insights into actionable recommendations.

This position supports the full seasonal cycle from range planning to in-season performance tracking, collaborating with R&D, Planning, E-commerce, Store Operations, and Marketing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Strong analytical and commercial mindset; ability to turn sales and stock data into actionable decisions.
• Advanced MS Excel; experience with reporting tools and ERP systems is a plus.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and supplier management skills.
• Good command of written and spoken English.
• Willingness for domestic and international travel.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of seasonal footwear collections in line with brand strategy, customer expectations, and market trends.
• Take an active role in range planning, option planning, and seasonal buying decisions.
• Analyze sales, stock levels, sell-through, profitability, and category KPIs to spot opportunities and recommend actions.
• Conduct market, competitor, and trend analysis to inform product and pricing decisions.
• Work with local and international suppliers across product selection, development, pricing, and delivery, following up on quality and timelines.
• Track product performance through the season and recommend repeat orders and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with R&D, Planning, E-commerce, Store Operations, and Marketing to keep product development fast, agile, and customer-focused.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Supplier management

English proficiency

Excel skills

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Our footwear collections are where the Derimod brand meets the customer every day. As we grow across stores, e-commerce, and new international markets, every option on the shelf has to earn its place: on trend, priced right, delivered on time, and selling through.

In this context, we are looking for a Category Specialist to join our Category team and help build commercially successful, trend-driven footwear collections that meet our customers’ expectations.

This role sits where data meets product. You will read the numbers, follow the trends, work with suppliers, and turn what you see into clear recommendations the team can act on.

What You Will Do

In this role, as a P1-level Category Specialist, you will support the full seasonal cycle of our footwear category, from range planning and supplier development to in-season performance tracking, working closely with R&D, Planning, E-commerce, Store Operations, and Marketing.

• Support the development and execution of seasonal footwear collections in line with brand strategy, customer expectations, and market trends
• Take an active role in range planning, option planning, and seasonal buying decisions
• Analyze sales, stock levels, sell-through, profitability, and category KPIs to spot opportunities and recommend actions
• Conduct market, competitor, and trend analysis to inform product and pricing decisions
• Work with local and international suppliers across product selection, development, pricing, and delivery, following up on quality and timelines
• Track product performance through the season and recommend repeat orders and corrective actions
• Collaborate with R&D, Planning, E-commerce, Store Operations, and Marketing to keep product development fast, agile, and customer-focused

Who You Are

• Bachelor's degree in a related field
• Experience in category management, buying, or merchandising, preferably in footwear or fashion retail
• Strong analytical and commercial mindset; you turn sales and stock data into actionable decisions
• Genuine interest in fashion trends, consumer behavior, and retail dynamics
• Advanced MS Excel; experience with reporting tools and ERP systems is a plus
• Strong communication, negotiation, and supplier management skills
• Good command of written and spoken English
• Available for domestic and international travel
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable in a fast-paced environment

Why Derimod?

For over 50 years we have not followed trends, we have shaped them. Today, as the leader of Turkey’s leather fashion and footwear retail industry, we are not standing still. We are redefining what comes next.

Our People & Culture vision is built on a clear ambition: i3 - Innovate. Inspire. Impact. This role delivers on all three:

• Innovate - We are rethinking how we design experiences, systems, and capabilities.
• Inspire - As colleagues, we deliver work that inspires one another, our customers, and our industry.
• Impact - We create lasting impact on the future of fashion through bold, responsible transformation.

If you want your category, commercial analysis, and product development expertise to shape the collections our customers choose, we invite you to join Derimod's transformation journey.