Buyer Lead / Category Lead-FMCG

Own Your Category

1. Define Category Vision & Strategy: Establish a clear vision and strategy for your category, aligning it with overall company goals and market trends.
2. Supplier Management: Onboard, develop, and sustain key suppliers, building strong partnerships that drive business success.
3. Innovative Procurement Strategy: Develop and execute procurement strategies, aligning with the company's overarching goals and optimizing your category's performance.
4. Supplier Evaluation: Identify and evaluate potential suppliers, negotiate contracts, and establish partnerships that provide competitive advantages in terms of pricing, quality, and delivery.
5. Advanced Negotiations: Lead high-stakes negotiations to secure favorable contract terms, ensuring the best possible value for the company and maximizing your category's profitability.
6. Assortment Optimization: Develop and execute assortment plans across various categories, price points, and brands, tailoring your category to meet market demands and customer preferences.
7. Compliance and Ethics: Stay updated on regulatory changes and ensure all sourcing activities comply with legal and ethical standards.

Drive Insights and Performance

1. Forecasting and Analysis: Provide data-driven forecasts, insights, and recommendations for key retail KPIs, projects, and initiatives to steer your category's growth.
2. Market Intelligence: Monitor market trends, industry developments, and supplier performance to proactively adjust sourcing strategies and maintain a competitive edge.
3. Inventory Management: Utilize advanced analytics to manage product demand, sales data, and inventory levels, ensuring optimal stock levels and avoiding overstock or stockouts.
4. Competitive Analysis: Conduct in-depth competitive analyses and benchmarks to stay ahead of the market and enhance your category's performance.
5. Operational Excellence: Implement efficient operating procedures and drive continuous improvement initiatives to achieve cost savings and efficiency improvements within your category.
6. Process Innovation: Critique and refine current processes to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, driving innovation and improvement within your category.

Lead and Collaborate

1. Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with platform, marketing, and operations teams to align category strategies with overall business objectives and drive your category's success.
2. Supplier Relationship Management: Conduct regular supplier performance reviews, addressing any issues promptly to maintain strong relationships and ensure the best outcomes for your category.
3. Team Collaboration: Work closely with local and regional teammates and stakeholders to foster a collaborative environment and drive your category's performance.
4. Thought Leadership: Act as a thought partner, engaging with teams to explore and capitalize on new opportunities, driving innovation and growth within your category.

Job Requirements

1. Educational Background: Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, or a related field.
2. Professional Experience: Proven experience as a Category Manager, Strategy Consulting, Product Management or Retail Buying with offline retail background ideally.
3. Analytical and Creative Thinking: Strong analytical skills combined with creativity and organizational abilities.
4. Leadership: Driven as both a collaborative team member and an inspiring leader, while transitioning to DOER mode when challenges arise.
5. Commitment to Excellence: High attention to detail and a critical eye for process improvement.
6. Adaptability: Eager to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
7. Collaborative Mindset: Strong collaboration skills and an activator mindset to co-execute plans across the organization.