Retail Category Manager

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus structure

Hybrid work

Career advancement

Employee discounts

Dynamic work culture

Job summary

Placements24 in Sandton is seeking a strategic Retail Category Manager to lead and develop premium product categories. You will own end-to-end category management from planning to profitability and assortment optimization in a hybrid work setup.

You will leverage data analytics, market insights, and supplier negotiations to drive category growth, manage lifecycle, pricing, promotions, and inventory while collaborating with marketing, sales, and operations to deliver strong category performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, merchandising, or related field.
• 5+ years in retail category management or senior merchandising.
• Proven track record growing retail product categories.
• Strong analytical skills with retail data analysis and forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Manage lifecycle: assortment planning, pricing, promotion, and inventory.
• Analyze market trends, competitor performance, and customer data for growth.
• Negotiate with suppliers for favorable terms, pricing, and exclusives.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, operations for category performance.
• Monitor sales, profitability, and KPIs; provide reports and insights.
• Drive innovation by introducing new products and concepts.

Skills

Analytical skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Forecasting

Retail data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/marketing/merchandising

Tools

Planograms software

Retail analytics software

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for a strategic and experienced Retail Category Manager to lead and develop product categories for their premium retail brand in Sandton. This role is responsible for the end-to-end management of assigned product categories, from strategic planning and product selection to sales performance and profitability. Working in a hybrid model, you will leverage data analytics and market insights to drive category growth and optimize the product assortment. The ideal candidate possesses strong commercial acumen, leadership qualities, and a deep understanding of the retail market to drive success in this crucial role.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with overall business objectives.
• Manage the product lifecycle, including assortment planning, pricing, promotion, and inventory.
• Analyze market trends, competitor performance, and customer data to identify growth opportunities.
• Negotiate with suppliers to secure favorable terms, pricing, and product exclusives.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, and operations teams to ensure successful category performance.
• Monitor category sales, profitability, and key performance indicators (KPIs), providing regular reports and insights.
• Drive innovation within assigned categories, introducing new products and concepts.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in retail category management or a senior merchandising role.
• Proven track record of successfully managing and growing retail product categories.
• Strong analytical skills with expertise in retail data analysis and forecasting.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.
• Experience with planograms and retail analytics software.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment, balancing strategic planning with operational execution in Sandton.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and comprehensive bonus structure.
• Flexible hybrid work environment.
• Significant opportunities for career advancement in retail management.
• Generous employee discounts and other exclusive benefits.
• Dynamic and innovative work culture focused on strategic growth.