Senior Category Manager

The Key Recruitment Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

The Key Recruitment Group seeks a Senior Category Manager based at their Somerset West premises to lead and execute product and category management strategy across all product groups, aligning with global brand direction and local market dynamics.

You will drive seasonal buying, manage stock levels, liaise with global counterparts, and partner with marketing/ecommerce teams to support launches and pricing strategies in the South African retail landscape.

Qualifications

• B. Com in Business, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 5–7 years of experience in a retail buying role, ideally within premium or international consumer brands.
• MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH LOGILITY
• Strong analytical skills and experience with demand planning tools and Excel/ERP systems.
• Proficiency with Power BI for reporting purposes
• Experience with Salesforce Commerce Cloud or similar ecommerce platforms.
• Familiarity with D365
• Deep understanding of the South African retail landscape and consumer behaviour.
• Appreciation for premium/luxury positioning and brand equity.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement seasonal and annual buying plans aligned with international brand strategy and local business objectives.
• Lead product selection across all categories including cookware, bakeware, accessories, kitchen tools, and limited editions.
• Work closely with global counterparts to localise assortments for South Africa’s customer and climate profile.
• Analyse historical data, market trends, and sales forecasts to create accurate demand plans.
• Work with planning and logistics teams to ensure product availability and optimal stock levels.
• Manage relationships with global supply chain teams and other approved vendors.
• Liaise with international counterparts on product timelines, order placement, and availability.
• Ensure all sourcing aligns with brand standards for quality, ethics, and sustainability.
• Monitor and manage stock levels to minimise overstock and stockouts.
• Propose markdowns or promotional actions to optimise ageing stock in line with brand image.
• Ensure optimal balancing across the Distribution Centres and channels.
• Driving excellence in inventory management and upkeep across all channels; along with implementation of protocol to mitigate stock losses.
• Monitor rate of return and stock losses across all categories and make recommendations accordingly.
• Partner with marketing, ecommerce, and retail teams to support product launches and campaigns; monitoring and flagging delays in product launches to relevant stakeholders.
• Set local retail and wholesale pricing strategies in line with global pricing guidelines and local market realities.
• Analyse profitability by SKU and category; recommend pricing changes as needed.
• Provide regular reporting on sales, stock, and profitability performance by range.
• Identify gaps and opportunities in the assortment and propose corrective action.

Skills

Analytical skills

Demand planning

Excel/ERP

Power BI

Salesforce Commerce Cloud

D365

South Africa retail landscape

Premium/luxury positioning

Education

B. Com in Business/ Supply Chain

Tools

Logility

Job description

Well-established importer and distributor of prestige houseware products seeks to employ a suitably qualified and experienced Senior Category Manager based at their premises in Somerset West. You will lead and execute the product and category management strategy across all product groups, ensuring alignment with global brand direction, commercial priorities, and local market dynamics.

For the position you would be required to have:

• B. Com in Business, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of experience in a retail buying role, ideally within premium or international consumer brands.
• MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH LOGILITY
• Strong analytical skills and experience with demand planning tools and Excel/ERP systems.
• Proficiency with Power BI for reporting purposes
• Experience with Salesforce Commerce Cloud or similar ecommerce platforms.
• Familiarity with D365
• Deep understanding of the South African retail landscape and consumer behaviour.
• Appreciation for premium/luxury positioning and brand equity.

Responsibilities would include you to:

Range & Product Strategy

• Develop and implement seasonal and annual buying plans aligned with international brand strategy and local business objectives.
• Lead product selection across all categories including cookware, bakeware, accessories, kitchen tools, and limited editions.
• Work closely with global counterparts to localise assortments for South Africa’s customer and climate profile.

Demand & Sales Forecasting

• Analyse historical data, market trends, and sales forecasts to create accurate demand plans.
• Work with planning and logistics teams to ensure product availability and optimal stock levels.

Supplier Management

• Manage relationships with global supply chain teams and other approved
• vendors.
• Liaise with international counterparts on product timelines, order placement, and availability.
• Ensure all sourcing aligns with brand standards for quality, ethics, and sustainability.

Stock Management

• Monitor and manage stock levels to minimise overstock and stockouts.
• Propose markdowns or promotional actions to optimise ageing stock in line with brand image.
• Ensure optimal balancing across the Distribution Centres and channels.
• Driving excellence in inventory management and upkeep across all channels; along with implementation of protocol to mitigate stock losses.
• Monitor rate of return and stock losses across all categories and make recommendations accordingly.

Product Launch & Merchandising

• Partner with marketing, ecommerce, and retail teams to support product launches and campaigns; monitoring and flagging delays in product launches to relevant stakeholders.

Pricing & Margin Management

• Set local retail and wholesale pricing strategies in line with global pricing guidelines and local market realities.
• Analyse profitability by SKU and category; recommend pricing changes as needed.

Reporting & Analysis

• Provide regular reporting on sales, stock, and profitability performance by range.
• Identify gaps and opportunities in the assortment and propose corrective action.