Category Specialist (Owned Inventory)

The Category Specialist (Owned Inventory) will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and performance of assigned product categories within the eCommerce platform. This role aims to drive sales, optimize inventory, enhance customer experience, and ensure that the product assortment meets market demand. The Category Specialist will work closely with internal teams and suppliers to curate and manage product offerings, develop effective promotional strategies, and analyze market trends to drive business growth.

Accountability & Responsibilities of Role:

Category Management:

• Oversee the strategic direction of assigned product categories, ensuring alignment with broader business goals.
• Develop and implement category plans aimed at achieving key objectives, including sales targets, margin optimization, and inventory management.
• Ensure that the product portfolio aligns with customer preferences and market trends.

Market Analysis:

• Conduct comprehensive market research to understand industry trends, customer preferences, and the competitive landscape.
• Analyze sales data, consumer behavior, and market trends to inform key business decisions, including product assortment, pricing strategies, and promotional activities.
• Monitor industry developments and competitor strategies to ensure the company remains competitive within the eCommerce space.

Product Selection and Merchandising:

• Curate and maintain an optimal product assortment for assigned categories, ensuring alignment with customer demand and market trends.
• Collaborate with suppliers, procurement, and internal teams to source new products and ensure a balanced inventory mix.
• Manage inventory levels efficiently to avoid stockouts or overstock situations.

Promotional Strategies:

• Develop and execute marketing and promotional strategies to drive traffic, engagement, and conversion within the assigned categories.
• Work closely with the marketing team to design and implement targeted campaigns that enhance category visibility and increase sales.

Performance Tracking and Reporting:

• Continuously monitor and analyze key category performance metrics, such as sales, margins, inventory turnover, and customer feedback.
• Identify areas for improvement and recommend strategies to optimize category performance.
• Prepare detailed reports on category performance for stakeholders, providing insights and recommendations for continuous improvement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with various teams, including marketing, logistics, and customer service, to ensure a seamless customer journey and effective product availability.
• Provide insights and recommendations from a category perspective to support overall business strategy and product development.
• Work closely with the supply chain and logistics teams to manage product flow and resolve any issues related to inventory or product availability

Position Requirements:

Educational Background:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Retail Management, or a related field. A Master’s degree is a plus.

Work Experience:

• At least 3-5 years of experience in category management, eCommerce, or product management, preferably in a retail or eCommerce environment.
• Proven experience in developing and executing category strategies to achieve sales and margin goals.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in interpreting market data, sales performance, and consumer behavior.
• Familiarity with eCommerce platforms, digital marketing strategies, and inventory management.

Key Competencies:

• Shaping Strategy:

  Ability to make sense of complex data, trends and dynamics on continually evolving basis, understand and anticipate the potential impact these may have, and use them to shape the direction of the business

• Driving Change:

  Recognizing and anticipating the need for change. Demonstrating openness, flexibility and support for change, aligning people to move in new and challenging directions. Dealing effectively with uncertainty, and adapting to new situations and ways of working while staying focused, organized and positive.

• Networking & Influencing Collaboratively:

  Developing rapport with a diverse range of people. Building and leveraging networks horizontally and vertically. Proactively influencing and persuading others to gain support for initiatives. Maintaining collaborative stakeholder relationships.