Manager - Category Management - IIM/ISB/MDI/XLRI

Role Overview:

We are looking for an experienced Category Manager to manage and scale key business categories. The role primarily revolves around building a best-in-class assortment, ensuring competitive pricing, and continuously improving customer experience. You will act as the category custodian, partnering closely with multiple teams - including procurement, marketing, finance, supply chain, and operations - to drive sales, profitability, and category growth.

Key Responsibilities:

P&L Ownership & Business Growth:

- Own complete category P&L - driving sales, margins, and profitability.

- Define and implement pricing, promotion, and discount strategies to meet business goals.

- Identify growth opportunities, cost efficiencies, and process improvements through data-driven insights.

- Partner with finance and operations to optimize working capital and improve contribution margins.

Category Strategy & Development:

- Build and scale the category assortment with the right product mix and vendor partnerships.

- Lead assortment planning, demand forecasting, and inventory management aligned with business cycles.

- Identify and onboard new brands/vendors, negotiate contracts, and ensure long-term relationships.

- Monitor market trends, competition, and consumer behavior to refine category strategy and pricing models.

Marketing, Visibility & Customer Experience:

- Collaborate with marketing to plan visibility campaigns, product launches, and brand partnerships.

- Drive conversion, repeat rate, and AOV through improved category merchandising and customer engagement.

- Ensure best-in-class product availability, quality, and experience across all customer touchpoints.

Team & Stakeholder Leadership:

- Lead and mentor a team of category executives/analysts to deliver key KPIs.

- Champion data-led decision-making and use digital tools to enhance category efficiency.

- Drive cross-functional alignment with supply chain, finance, and product teams for seamless execution.

Requirements:

- 5-10 years of experience in Category Management, Retail, or E-commerce.

- Proven success in P&L management, vendor negotiations, and strategic execution.

- Strong analytical mindset and proficiency in Excel, Power BI, or SQL (preferred).

- MBA or equivalent from a Tier-1/Tier-2 institute preferred.