Job Purpose:

To achieve and exceed the category financial targets through the successful development and implementation of a category operating plan by actively cultivating, developing and maintaining vendor relationships in line with the business objectives.

Job Objectives:

• To develop an annual category operating plan in line with the strategic category brief and lead the category team to achieve the category operating plan targets.
• To negotiate multi-category trading terms and promotional spend (co-op) and actively cultivate and develop vendor relationships and partnerships to ensure vendor performance and first to market with new product launches.
• To negotiate and select promotional products and price to meet the promotional category sales and margin targets, whilst ensuring that the day-day sales and margin targets are met.
• To translate the operating and financial plans into a balanced product assortment and on-shelf layout to meet the customers’ needs.
• To drive exclusive brands thereby creating product differentiation and innovation to increase market share and profitability.
• To manage the achievement of Private Label targets, thereby creating product differentiation, innovation and brand loyalty to increase market share and profitability.
• To sign off and approve the category financial plan to achieve the divisional financial plan.
• To define the category pricing and promotions strategy to ensure we meet the customer’s needs and remain competitive in the market.
• To accelerate the growth of the Sports Supplements category in line with the business objectives
• Responsible for the procurement of pharmaceutical products.
• Managing out of stocks with Suppliers, updating out of stock schedule for reporting purpose.
• Responsible for managing supplier in fills.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Diploma in Purchasing/Retail/Marketing/Financial Management
• Essential: 2-5 years’ experience in Retail Buying
• Essential: People management
• 2-5 years’ experience in FMCG category desirable

Skills, Abilities and Job Related Knowledge:

• Knowledge and understanding of the buying business processes.
• Good understanding of developing a category operating plan and identifying strategic opportunities.
• Knowledge of market trends and competitor analysis.
• Knowledge and understanding of assortment management
• Knowledge and understanding of supplier co-op negotiations and trading terms
• Knowledge of financial planning
• Knowledge of Sports, Slimming and Nutrition products

• Formulating Strategies and Concepts
• Analyzing
• Entrepreneurial and Commercial Thinking
• Relating and Networking
• Planning and Organizing
• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Learning and Researching