Role & responsibilities Business Strategy: Support new store openings and regional expansions through tailored merchandising strategies. Develop short- and long-term buying strategies to optimize assortment, availability, and margins. Evaluate market trends and competition to innovate and adapt quickly. Merchandising Planning: Define and implement merchandise strategy for all store formats aligned to customer insights, regional demands, and company vision. Lead category architecture, assortment mix, private label development, and price positioning. Plan seasonal and festive merchandising calendar in coordination with marketing and operations. Vendor Management: Build strategic partnerships with suppliers and negotiate best-in-class terms, pricing, and margins. Manage sourcing, procurement cycles, and long-term supplier development. Ensure ethical sourcing and compliance with food safety, ESG, and regulatory standards. Build strong supplier partnerships, negotiate commercials, secure exclusive deals, and ensure timely procurement. Category Ownership: Drive performance across key categories: Fresh, FMCG, Staples, General Merchandise. Optimize SKU count, inventory turns, and shelf space to maximize profitability and efficiency. Leverage data analytics to improve product performance, assortment rationalization, and consumer behavior insights. Manage and grow the food (staples, dairy, FMCG, etc.) and non-food (home care, personal care, general merchandise) portfolio across Star Localmart stores. Margin & Profitability Focus: Develop pricing architecture to maintain competitiveness while protecting margin. Oversee promotion planning with a focus on ROI and customer footfall. Collaborate with marketing and operations for effective promotions rollouts. Must have the knowledge of GMROI, GMROFS Drive initiatives to improve category-level gross margins through effective pricing, promotions, and sourcing efficiencies. Market Intelligence: Stay abreast of market trends, competitor activity, and consumer insights to inform merchandising decisions. Should be an expert in analyzing then AC Nielsen trends. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Lead and mentor a team of category managers, buyers, and merchandise planners. Work closely with Supply Chain, Store Operations, Marketing, and Finance to deliver merchandise objectives. Foster a high-performance culture and data-driven decision-making. New Store Opening: Defining strategies for opening new stores, Research local demographics, competitor offerings, and consumer trends to ensure the product mix aligns with demand. Team Leadership: Build and mentor a high-performance buying & merchandising team with a focus on data-driven decision-making. Preferred candidate profile 1. Experience: 1520 years in merchandising/category leadership roles in organized retail/FMCG, with at least 5+ years in a leadership role managing end-to-end categories. One must have experience in the South and West markets. 2. Domain Expertise: Proven experience in managing both food and non-food categories in small-format retail (e.g., convenience stores, neighborhood stores, discount stores). 3. Education: MBA or PGDM in Retail, Marketing, or Operations from a reputed institution.
Role & responsibilities Plan and execute digital marketing campaigns, including social media, Google Ads, display advertising, and email marketing, to increase brand visibility and store footfalls. Develop engaging content for social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) aligned with brand guidelines and seasonal promotions. Coordinate with design and merchandising teams to create creatives, banners, and promotional assets. Analyze campaign performance using tools like Google Analytics, Meta Business Suite, etc., and prepare performance reports. Manage website updates, local store pages, and SEO activities to boost organic reach. Monitor and respond to customer interactions, reviews, and queries on digital platforms. Research competitors and industry trends to suggest innovative campaigns and new digital strategies. Collaborate with store teams to highlight local promotions, events, and offers digitally. Preferred candidate profile Bachelors degree in marketing, Digital Marketing, Mass Communication, or a related field. 2–5 years of experience in digital marketing, preferably in retail, FMCG, or e-commerce sectors. Proficiency in running paid campaigns on Google, Facebook, Instagram. Working knowledge of SEO, content marketing, and website management. Strong analytical skills; ability to translate data into actionable insights. Good communication skills in English (knowledge of local languages will be an advantage). Creative thinking, attention to detail, and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.