Objectives of this role • Developing and executing strategic plans for the assigned product category to drive sales and profitability. • Analysing market trends, consumer behaviour and competitor activities in order to identify growth opportunities and market gaps. • Collaborating with various teams, like marketing, sales and product development, to identify and implement new products, services and marketing initiatives. • Managing product assortment, pricing, promotions and inventory to optimise category performance. • Evaluating customer feedback and implementing changes to enhance the overall customer experience and drive customer loyalty. • Developing solid relationships with key vendors and suppliers to improve category offerings and negotiate favourable terms. Your tasks • Conduct thorough market research and analysis to identify emerging trends, competitive landscape and customer preferences and provide actionable plans. • Develop and execute comprehensive category management strategies to achieve business objectives and drive growth. • Maintain robust category management tools and processes, ensuring seamless strategy execution across the organisation. • Monitor and evaluate category performance, leveraging key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective measures. • Lead supplier negotiations, ensuring favourable terms and conditions to drive cost savings and strengthen supplier relationships. • Collaborate with marketing teams to develop effective product messaging, positioning and communication strategies. • Execute pricing strategies and promotional plans to optimise profitability while considering market dynamics and customer value perception. • Stay up-to-date with industry trends, competitor activities and technological advancements to provide recommendations to senior management. Required skills and qualifications • SA bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or a related field. • 3+ years of experience as a category manager in the retail industry in India. • Strong understanding of the Indian market, consumer behaviour and retail trends. • Proficiency in utilising Microsoft Office Suite, category management tools and software for data analysis and reporting. • Flexibility to adapt to the changing market dynamics, consumer preferences and organisational priorities. • Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions. • Excellent communication and negotiation skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders. • Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and quality. • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment. Preferred skills and qualifications • Experience in category management within the Indian retail market. • Familiarity with retail merchandising systems and software. • Knowledge of inventory management and demand forecasting techniques. • Understanding of pricing strategies, margin analysis and profitability optimisation. • Experience in vendor management and negotiations. • Ability to conduct market research and consumer surveys. • Proficiency in data analysis and using analytics tools. • Multilingual skills to cater to diverse customer segments in India.