Mr D - Junior E-Commerce Category Manager

takealot.com; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 230,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Mr D, a division of the Takealot Group, is seeking a Junior E‑commerce Category Manager in Cape Town. You will own a category end-to-end, collaborating with merchandising, operations and partners to implement growth plans, optimise listings and promotions, and drive GMV.

The role demands data-driven decisions, strong stakeholder management and a proactive, results-oriented mindset. Join a dynamic, fast-growing team that values internal promotion, learning, and cross-functional collaboration

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field.
• 1–2 years in category management, buying, or merchandising in e‑commerce/retail.
• Strong analytical and commercial acumen with data-driven decision making.
• Experience collaborating with merchandising teams and external partners.
• Excellent relationship management and stakeholder collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Fully own and drive performance of a specific Mr D category on the platform.
• Execute and monitor growth plans, GMV, and store expansion.
• Identify product opportunities and expand ranges with partners.
• Manage relationships with partner groups and ensure accurate, up-to-date listings.
• Collaborate to develop joint marketing initiatives and promotions.
• Work with merchandising, marketing, tech and ops for cohesive category performance.
• Analyze category performance using KPIs and identify optimisation opportunities.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Commercial acumen

Relationship management

Stakeholder collaboration

Data manipulation (Excel/Sheets)

Presentations (PowerPoint)

Target-driven

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Marketing or related field

Tools

Excel/Google Sheets

PowerPoint

Job description

Mr D, a division of the Takealot Group, is looking for a highly talented Junior E-Commerce Category Manager to join our team in Cape Town.

We are a young, dynamic, hyper growth company looking for smart, creative, hard-working people with integrity to join us!

Think you’ve been challenged before? Think again!

• Scale : Show the millions of Mr D customers what you can do


• Learn : We work with the best of the best, and then some.


• Grow : Expand your career in the fast-growing Takealot Group: Takealot.com and Mr D. We like to promote from within: Here’s your chance.

Purpose of this role:

The Junior e-commerce Category Manager focuses on driving growth and performance of a specific category, such as Pets, Convenience, Liquor, Pharmacy, and more. As a Category Manager, you will be proactive and responsible for the end-to-end management of your category. The role requires close collaboration with partners, merchandising, operations, and cross-functional teams to execute category strategies and maximise commercial results.

Key responsibilities / accountabilities:

Category Ownership:

• Fully own and drive the performance of a specific shops category on the Mr D platform.


• Execute and monitor growth plans for the category, including orders, Gross Merchandise Volume and store expansion.


• Ensure category coverage by identifying new product opportunities and expanding ranges through existing and new partners.

Partner Management:

• Manage relationships with partner groups within the assigned category, ensuring consistent communication and alignment on commercial goals.


• Ensure partner listings are accurate, up to date, and optimised for visibility on the platform.


• Collaborate with partners on product availability, pricing strategies, and promotional campaigns.

Partnership Development:

• Identify, negotiate, and establish partnerships with relevant businesses and organizations within the assigned vertical.


• Collaborate with partners to develop joint marketing initiatives and promotions.


• Evaluate and optimize existing partnerships for mutual benefit.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with the merchandising team to ensure optimal category representation and visibility within the app.


• Drive category-specific campaigns, including seasonal promotions and thematic sales (e.g., holiday gifting for liquor, pet care essentials).


• Work closely with marketing, tech , and operations teams to ensure a cohesive approach to category performance, content accuracy, and customer engagement.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement:

• Analyze category performance across key metrics such as Gross Merchandise Volume, Average Order Value, conversion rates, and partner contribution.


• Identify gaps and opportunities for optimisation, such as partner-specific performance gaps, and product availability issues


• Leverage data insights to identify trends and opportunities for category growth

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Revenue: Achieve gross merchandise volume and order targets


• Active Partner Contribution: Work with partners on promotional opportunities.


• Improve conversion rate: Through improved listings, enhanced product visibility, and regularly updated and accurate listings and product information.

Skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Strong analytical and commercial acumen with the ability to make data-driven decisions.


• Experience working with merchandising teams and external partners.


• Excellent relationship management and stakeholder collaboration skills


• Familiarity with manipulating data on excel or google sheets and creating presentations on PowerPoint


• Results-oriented with a focus on achieving targets and KPIs.

Qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field


• 1- 2 years in category management, buying, or merchandising roles within e-commerce or retail

Let’s talk about life @ Mr D

• The power is in your hands : We offer a market-related, Total Remuneration Package which allows full flexibility according to your needs. Go on, be the master of your own destiny.


• No doors : We aren’t fans of stuffy offices or siloed work environments. See someone you like? High five, collab and make something great.


• Online Learning : Share ideas and grow with global industry leaders who are all just a Slack message away. Love to learn? Up-skill with free access to courses on Prosus Academy and more.


• Good times : Get to know the other extraordinary minds in the takealot group during regular social events and out-of-office activities (think hikes, think mini golf, think good times).


• Birthday leave : Cake Day all the way. Enjoy your day off - you deserve it.


• Help when you need it most : Confidential counselling, legal support and financial guidance, for free, anytime, anywhere.


• Free parking: No more 5km fun runs to your desk (unless you want to).

Like what you see?

If you meet the above you are an Extraordinary Mind.

Mr D is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants from previously disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities will be given preference