Requirements
The Sr. Manager Category requires 12-15 years of experience in category management, buying, or merchandising within the retail or fashion industry, with at least 5 years in a managerial role. Proven success in managing category P&L, assortment strategies, pricing, and vendor partnerships is essential, along with strong expertise in inventory management and data-driven decision-making. A Bachelor's degree in Business, Retail Management, or related field is required, with an MBA being preferred.
Description
Job description / Role
Job Type
Full Time
Job Location
Dubai, UAE
Nationality
Any Nationality
Salary
Not Specified
Gender
Not Specified
Arabic Fluency
Not Specified
Job Function
Sales - Retail
Company Industry
Retail
Objective:
The Sr. Manager Category is responsible for formulating and executing end-to-end category strategies across buying, pricing, assortment, and inventory planning, while leading a high-performing team of merchandisers and category managers. The role ensures alignment with business objectives, drives revenue and margin growth, and serves as a key interface with brand partners, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
Key Responsibility:
Category strategy & business planning
Define and implement long-term category strategies in line with overall commercial goals and consumer trends.
Drive the annual business planning process for the category, including sales, margin, assortment, and promotional targets.
Identify whitespace opportunities, assortment gaps, and initiatives to enhance customer value propositions.
Conduct periodic SWOT analysis, competitor benchmarking, and market scans to guide decision-making.
Buying, vendor & brand management
Oversee the category buying lifecycle, ensuring timely product selections, order placements, and range architecture.
Negotiate directly with key vendors and principals to secure optimal pricing, margins, and exclusive collections.
Ensure adherence to sourcing, quality, compliance, and ethical standards across all vendor interactions.
Act as the primary commercial interface for brand partners, facilitating alignment on merchandising and sales objectives.
Merchandising & inventory optimization
Lead the merchandising function for the category, focusing on effective in-store and online product presentation.
Establish demand forecasting, open-to-buy planning, and replenishment parameters to balance stock health.
Monitor category sell-through, stock ageing, and markdown strategies to protect margin and reduce inventory risk.
Coordinate closely with supply chain and logistics teams to ensure timely product availability and flow.
Performance management & reporting
Track and analyze key category KPIs including sales, gross margin, contribution, stock turns, and GMROI.
Develop actionable insights and dashboards to guide tactical decisions and executive reporting.
Lead monthly and quarterly reviews with business heads and brand leadership to assess performance and course correct.
Team development & cross-functional collaboration
Lead and mentor a team of category managers, merchandisers, and analysts, promoting a culture of accountability and growth.
Drive cross-functional collaboration with marketing, operations, finance, and visual merchandising to execute category plans effectively.
Facilitate training, knowledge sharing, and succession planning to build bench strength within the category team.
Desired Experience:
12–15 years of progressive experience in category management, buying, or merchandising within the retail or fashion industry.
Minimum 5 years in a managerial capacity, leading cross-functional teams and delivering strategic business outcomes.
Proven success in managing category P&L, assortment strategies, pricing decisions, and vendor partnerships.
Strong expertise in inventory management, stock planning, and data-driven decision-making.
Demonstrated ability to negotiate with international and regional vendors, brand principals, and suppliers.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Retail Management, or related field; MBA preferred.
About the Company
The Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle brand conglomerate residing on the crossroads of a modern economy - Dubai, UAE. The mercurial growth in the last 17 years has been by acquiring a host of world class fashion labels from around the world - Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, Aldo & Tim Hortons just to name a few.
Today the group caters to thousands of eager shoppers through its over 1530 stores, 75 International brands and employing 12,000 multi cultural staff in over 4 continents. Apparel believes in turning dreams in to reality and we give everyone - our customers, our stakeholders, our employees - an equal opportunity to do so.
Apparel group has carved its strong presence not only in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia but opened thriving gateways to market in India, South Africa, Poland, Singapore, Jordan, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Additionally, clear strategies are in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary, Pakistan, Egypt and Philippines.
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