Senior Category Manager / Marketplace / Ecommerce

Clicks Group; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in South Africa is seeking a Senior Category Manager – eCommerce. This role involves owning the online performance of assigned categories, driving sales and margin, and enhancing the customer experience through digital strategy and merchandising. The ideal candidate will have 2–5 years of experience in category management and a relevant degree. Join a dynamic team to help increase online sales and create an optimal shopping experience for customers.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years’ experience in category management, eCommerce trading, or digital merchandising.
• Strong understanding of supplier relationship management and business objectives.
• Experience in financial planning and budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Drive online sales, margin, and growth targets.
• Manage digital category strategy, pricing, and promotions.
• Ensure optimal digital merchandising and stock availability.

Skills

Commercial and analytical capability

Understanding of digital merchandising

Experience with Marketplace models

Education

B Degree or Diploma in Retail, Purchasing Management or similar

Job description

INTRODUCTION

The Senior Category Manager – eCommerce owns the end-to-end online performance of assigned categories, driving sales, margin, and customer experience. The role is responsible for digital range strategy, pricing and promotions, merchandising execution, stock availability, and category growth across web and app, working closely with Buying, Marketing and CX teams.

Job Description

Key Outcomes

• Online sales, margin, and growth targets achieved
• Expanded, relevant assortment through Marketplace without CX or brand dilution
• Strong conversion, basket contribution, and discoverability
• Effective promotions, retail media, and supplier/partner monetisation
• High-quality digital merchandising and customer experience

Category Strategy & Trading

• Own the eCommerce category strategy aligned to overall retail and omni objectives
• Set and manage online sales, margin, and growth targets by category
• Define what range must be online, including any selective Marketplace extension where relevant
• Identify growth opportunities through new products, brands, bundles, and seasonal initiatives

Pricing, Promotions & Commercials

• Manage online pricing, promotions, and markdown strategies
• Partner with Buying and Commercial teams on supplier funding and promotional planning
• Support retail media and monetisation initiatives within the category
• Monitor competitor pricing and digital trends

Digital Merchandising & Execution

• Ensure categories are optimally merchandised across PLPs, PDPs, search, navigation, and landing pages
• Work with onsite search to optimise discoverability and relevance
• Ensure product content quality (images, copy, attributes, taxonomy)
• Drive conversion through effective merchandising, cross-sell, and upsell

Stock, Availability & Fulfilment

• Partner with Supply Chain to ensure strong availability and fulfilment performance
• Monitor stock health, sell-through, and demand signals
• Support Marketplace fulfilment alignment and availability standards where applicable

Minimum Requirement

• Job Related Knowledge
• Operating plan development
• Supplier relationship management
• Procurement and Supply Chain
• Business Objectives and Strategies
• Business Processes
• Retail Management
• Market trends and competitor analysis
• Understanding of supplier co-op negotiations and trading terms
• Financial planning and budgets
• Relevant legislation
• Sales Margin Management

Job Related Skills

• Strong commercial and analytical capability
• Understanding of digital merchandising, pricing, and CX levers
• Experience working with Marketplace models advantageous but not essential

Job Experience

• 2–5 years’ experience in category management, eCommerce trading, or digital merchandising

Education

• B Degree or Diploma in Retail, Purchasing Management or similar (Essential)

Competencies

• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Working with People
• Persuading and Influencing
• Analysing
• Learning and Researching
• Delivering Results & Meeting Customer Expectations
• Achieving Personal Work Goals and Objectives
• Entrepreneurial and Commercial Thinking

All positions will be filled in accordance with our Employment Equity plan. We also encourage people with disabilities to apply.