Category Manager jobs in United Arab Emirates

ZEISS Lens Care Category & Sales Manager – Dubai, Middle East & Africa.

ZEISS is technology and innovation. Founded in Germany in 1846, we’re an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the optics and optoelectronics industries, generating more than €11.8 billion in revenue with around 46,000 employees across 50 countries worldwide.

As a company wholly owned by a foundation, ZEISS is rooted in and committed to responsibility in all its activities. Therefore, 15% of revenue is currently invested in science and R&D. As the pioneer of scientific optics, we continue to challenge the limits of human imagination. With our passion for excellence, we create value for our customers and inspire the world to see in new ways.

We’re looking for a Lens Care Category & Sales Manager – Dubai, Middle East & Africa to join ZEISS Vision Care.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, ZEISS Vision Care Middle East & Africa, you will have full end-to-end ownership of the Lens Care category across MEA. Your mission is to transform Lens Care from a limited, opportunistic business into a structured, scalable, and profitable retail-driven category.

• Defining and driving the MEA Lens Care category strategy, including portfolio structure, market prioritization, and growth roadmap
• Owning the Lens Care product portfolio across MEA, including assortment definition, lifecycle management, SKU rationalization, and retail readiness
• Actively developing and expanding retail distribution across supermarkets, pharmacies, electronics retailers, specialty retail, and e-commerce
• Leading commercial negotiations, partner acquisition, and joint business planning with key retail accounts, distributors, and buying groups
• Owning category-level sales targets, revenue growth, distribution coverage, and retail execution standards across the region
• Designing and deploying retail-focused go-to-market strategies, including pricing, shelf strategy, merchandising, promotions, and in-store activation
• Developing e-commerce and omnichannel growth strategies, including online assortment, repeat-purchase models, and alignment with physical retail
• Defining advertising and paid media strategies to drive retail sell-out, visibility, and repeat purchase, with clear ROI and performance KPIs
• Monitoring performance through structured dashboards, driving corrective actions, and scaling best practices across MEA
• Acting as the regional business owner for Lens Care, ensuring alignment with ZEISS brand positioning, quality standards, and governance requirements

As a Lens Care Category & Sales Manager, you will have:

• 10+ years of experience in category management, retail sales, or commercial leadership roles
• Proven experience building and scaling retail distribution networks, ideally in FMCG, personal care, OTC, or consumer goods
• Strong hands-on experience working with supermarkets, pharmacies, electronics retailers, or specialty retail chains
• Demonstrated success in leading commercial negotiations and joint business planning with key retail partners
• Experience managing multi-country, international business environments

• Hands-on exposure to e-commerce and omnichannel retail models
• Strong understanding of retail category management, shopper behavior, and sell-out dynamics
• Solid commercial and analytical skills with a KPI-driven mindset
• Experience managing advertising spend, retail media, and ROI / ROAS performance
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills
• An entrepreneurial, hands-on, and results-oriented mindset
• Arabic language skills (strong advantage)
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Commercial Management, or related field (MBA is a plus)

• A senior, high-impact role with full category ownership across a diverse and dynamic region
• The opportunity to build and scale a retail-driven business within a globally respected brand
• Competitive compensation and benefits package
• Hybrid working model with frequent regional and international exposure

Hybrid working conditions; frequent international and regional travel required.

Apply now to take the next step in joining ZEISS, where you can push technological boundaries, shape markets, and contribute to the advancement of society.

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:

Abbie Walters