Category Manager - Retail Buying/Procurement/Merchandising

About the Organization:

The company is one of the fastest growing modern retail chains in Central Africa, operating a network of supermarkets that cater to a diverse consumer base. The organization has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality products, competitive pricing, and a wide assortment of international and local brands.

With a focus on modern retail practices, the company emphasizes efficient supply chain management, strategic vendor partnerships, category growth initiatives, and data-driven merchandising decisions to maximize both customer satisfaction and business profitability.

The organization is currently investing heavily in expanding its product assortment, strengthening procurement processes, and building a strong category management team to support its next phase of growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement category strategies to drive sales growth and improve category profitability.
• Manage product assortment planning, SKU rationalization, and shelf optimization.
• Analyze sales data, customer buying patterns, and market trends to identify growth opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and negotiate commercial terms including pricing, discounts, and promotional support.
• Plan and execute category promotions, seasonal campaigns, and pricing strategies to improve sell-through.
• Ensure optimal inventory levels and reduce stock-outs through demand forecasting and inventory planning.
• Work closely with procurement, logistics, marketing, and store operations teams to ensure smooth category execution.
• Monitor category performance metrics such as sales growth, margins, inventory turnover, and product availability.
• Identify opportunities for new product introductions and expansion of existing categories.
• Support store teams with category guidelines, merchandising standards, and product placement strategies.

Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate should have:

• Experience in Category Management / Retail Buying / Procurement / Merchandising
• Experience working in Supermarket, Hypermarket, Retail Chain, or Modern Trade environments
• Strong expertise in supplier negotiation, pricing strategies, assortment planning, and inventory management
• Proven ability to analyze data and make category decisions based on business performance
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams including procurement, marketing, and operations
• Strong communication, negotiation, and analytical skills
• Willingness to relocate and work in an international retail environment