Category Manager

Category Manager – Cat Food

The Category Manager will be accountable for P&L delivery, pricing & promotions, selection expansion, vendor negotiations, and execution of category strategies. Success in this role will require deep collaboration with Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Tech, and Vendor partners, along with the ability to influence stakeholders across the business.

Key Responsibilities

1. Category P&L & Growth

• Own revenue, margin, and customer growth targets for the Cat Food category.
• Design and execute pricing, promotion, and discount strategies to balance growth and profitability.
• Identify growth levers such as selection expansion, exclusive launches, and attach-rate improvement.
• Track and report daily/weekly/monthly category performance against AOP targets.

2. Merchandising & Customer Experience

• Define and execute the assortment strategy (brands, SKUs, pack sizes) based on customer insights.
• Partner with Marketing to design impactful campaigns, visibility placements, and thematic sales for cat parents.
• Improve customer journey: searchability, navigation, product detail quality, and post-purchase satisfaction.

3. Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Lead vendor negotiations on pricing, margins, marketing spends, and supply commitments.
• Influence internal stakeholders across Finance, Growth, Tech, and Marketing to align with category objectives.
• Represent the category in leadership reviews, articulating challenges, risks, and growth plans.

4. Data & Analytics

• Use data (Excel, SQL, BI tools) to identify gaps, pricing opportunities, and sales trends.
• Track KPIs such as Category GMV, Gross Margin %, Contribution Margin, AOV, Attach Rate, and Repeat Purchases.
• Run experiments (e.g., promo vs. price drop, SKU bundling, free gift adoption) and measure effectiveness.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, or related field; MBA preferred.
• 3-5 years of Category Manager experience in FMCG, retail, or eCommerce.
• Proven track record of delivering P&L accountability and growth in fast-paced environments.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong P&L understanding and ability to translate business goals into category actions.
• High interpersonal skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and external partners.
• Excellent negotiation skills with vendors/brands.
• Data-driven with proficiency in Excel, SQL, and BI tools; comfortable with financial modeling.
• Ability to manage ambiguity, prioritize ruthlessly, and thrive under pressure (esp. during sale events).
• Passion for the pet care ecosystem and being a cat parent is mandatory.