Head of Category

Main professional deliverables:

• Develop a long-term category management operation concept including supporting the annual budget planning for product stock levels in all categories, related Opex and waste write off targets.
• Prepare regular forecasting plans to meet the category targets and to achieve the financial targets, and report analytics on all handled categories.
• Deliver all profitability and efficiency targets – commercial revenue, procurement budgets, margins, operation costs, full own area P&L
• Design and efficiently implement the category and procurement standards, supporting systems, implement procedures, and policies. When needed invest in modernization and digitalization.
• Manage supplier cooperation and contract management.
• Align with the marketing and other commercial areas, operation and other functions ensuring flowless operation.
• Ensure all human resources are available in time and at the required knowledge level.
• Lead reporting experts and define and evaluate their targets.

Flawless operation of the category management function:

• Establish monitoring systems for product levels, supplier varieties, costs, and margin requirements.
• Implement category management operational KPIs and ensure continuous improvement.

Successfully merge the existing category management and buying operation of the company:

• Establishing a new category management concept and revised SKU and supplier lists to meet short and long-term financial and commercial plans.
• Develop a strategy on how to keep and maintain appropriate product levels and run an efficient stock handling concept with minimal wastage.
• Build out a cost conscious but quality driven product and supplier selection system and ensure productive collaboration with suppliers.
• Revise existing supplier contracts and introduce better terms and conditions where applicable.
• Build up a modern, digital category focused procurement support system, tracking system, and ensure human capabilities to run it.

Experience required:

• 5-10 years category management and procurement leadership background preferably from a non-corporate environment
• Retail industry experience is a strong advantage.
• Category management P&L experience and budget responsibility and accountability for results is a must.
• Sound understanding of categories, products, suppliers, market is a must and impact on financial numbers and track record on collaboration with other functions.
• Proven track record of building processes and policies.
• Negotiation knowledge and supplier management experience is key.

Personality:

• Result and output oriented, business and commercially minded.
• Strong negotiator, good in supplier and contract management.
• Customer oriented and good in networking and communications.
• Strong analytical and financial understanding.
• Independent and hardworking and have a strong stamina.
• Team worker who collaborates well with peers and with owners
• Open, honest, and loyal.
• Mature, taking responsibility and accountability.
• Energetic, can motivate and develop others, positive thinker.
• Influencing attitude, ability to drive others towards common objectives. 
• “Can do” attitude with dynamism and flexibility.
• Paying attention on details while seeing broader picture and consequences.
• Enjoying working on change management and building a result driven culture.

• Fixed salary
• Team leadership
• Flexible working hours
• Travelling around the country