Senior Category Manager
Scraped from: Afriworket
1. Purpose of the Job The Senior Category Manager oversees the day-to-day category sourcing and merchandising activities for the Operations Department in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan. The role is responsible for developing and executing category strategies, supplier management, pricing, and sourcing optimization to drive profitability and sustainable growth. 2. Main Duties and Responsibilities • Lead the strategic business processes of Category Management in line with market insights and company objectives. • Develop and manage annual budgets for category sourcing functions, ensuring cost-effectiveness and alignment with strategic priorities. • Identify and evaluate new market opportunities in collaboration with the Marketing team. • Develop and implement category-specific commercial strategies to achieve company growth and profitability targets. • Oversee category expansion initiatives, sourcing operations, pricing structures, and supplier relationship management. • Define and refine merchandising and sourcing strategies, including category prioritization, product range, and pricing frameworks. • Conduct regular competitor and market analysis, focusing on pricing, availability, and consumer trends. • Monitor brand and category performance; recommend marketing and promotional activities to enhance visibility and sales. • Coordinate with vendors for sourcing proposals, evaluate supplier performance, and ensure consistent quality and service delivery. • Build and maintain long-term, value-driven relationships with suppliers to ensure continuity, reliability, and innovation in supply. • Identify challenges and improvement areas within the sourcing and category management process and propose corrective actions. • Collaborate closely with Finance, Sales, Store Operations, and HR to ensure seamless alignment of category and business objectives. • Prepare and present analytical reports on category performance, trends, and forecasts for management decision-making. • Perform other related duties as assigned by the Deputy CEO. 3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) • Growth in overall category assortment and product diversity. • Improvement in category gross margin and overall profitability. • Increased sourcing efficiency and diversification of supply sources. • Up-to-date market and consumer trend awareness applied to decision-making. • Growth in sales volume and value across all categories. • Effective team leadership, performance management, and timely reporting. 4. Team Management • Lead, supervise, and develop the Category Management team to ensure optimal performance. • Set clear objectives and KPIs for team members, monitor progress, and provide feedback and coaching. • Encourage collaboration, accountability, and innovation within the team. • Conduct regular performance evaluations and identify training and development needs. • Ensure a positive, productive, and ethical work environment aligned with company values. 5. Decision-Making Authority • Makes operational and tactical decisions related to sourcing, category mix, and supplier management. • Consults with the Deputy CEO for strategic or policy-level decisions. 6. Communication & Work Relations Internal: Deputy CEO, Chief Sales Officer, CEO, Finance, Sales, Marketing, HR, Retail Operations, and Warehouse Teams. External: Suppliers, service providers, manufacturers, market research partners, and other business stakeholders. 7. Qualification, Experience, and Skills • Education: Master’s degree or BA degree in Procurement, Marketing, Business Administration, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, or related field. • Experience: With Master’s degree Minimum of Four (4) years, With BA degree Minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience, of which at least three (3) years must be at a managerial level within the FMCG sector.