Category Management Assistant / Specialist

📣 We're Hiring: Category Management Assistant / Specialist📍 Location: United Arab Emirates (UAE) 🕒 Employment Type: Full-Time 💼 Level: Assistant / Specialist🌐 About UsWe are seeking an analytical, commercially minded, and detail-oriented Category Management Assistant / Specialist to support the development and performance management of assigned product categories.The role works closely with Category Management, Assortment Planning, Merchandise Planning, Merchandising, Procurement, Sourcing, Supplier Management, Demand Planning, Inventory Planning, Retail Operations, Sales, Marketing, E-commerce, Finance, and Supply Chain.The successful candidate will help turn customer, market, sales, pricing, assortment, supplier, and inventory data into actionable category decisions that improve sales, profitability, availability, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning.🎯 The RoleThe Category Management Assistant / Specialist supports the end-to-end management of assigned categories, from market analysis and assortment development through pricing, promotions, supplier performance, inventory, and category reviews.At Assistant level, the role focuses on data preparation, reporting, research, category administration, supplier information, and analytical support.At Specialist level, the role takes greater ownership of category insights, assortment recommendations, pricing analysis, promotional evaluation, supplier reviews, category plans, and performance improvement initiatives.🚀 What You'll DoCategory Strategy SupportSupport development of category strategiesAnalyze:Category salesMarket trendsCustomer demandCompetitor activityProduct performanceMarginInventoryTranslate insights into practical category recommendationsCategory PlanningSupport annual and periodic category planningEstablish category objectives covering:SalesMarginMarket shareCustomer penetrationAvailabilityInventory productivityTrack progress against approved plansCategory PerformanceMonitor:RevenueUnitsGross marginGross-margin percentageSales growthMarket trendsSKU productivityInventory turnsSell-throughAvailabilityStockoutsPromotional performanceCategory ReviewsPrepare regular category reviewsConsolidate:Sales dataCustomer insightsSupplier informationCompetitor dataPricingAssortmentInventoryHighlight key opportunities and risks🛒 Assortment ManagementRange DevelopmentSupport development of category assortmentsEvaluate:Core productsSeasonal productsPromotional productsNew productsLocalized productsSKU RationalizationIdentify low-performing or redundant SKUsAnalyze:SalesMarginInventoryCustomer demandAvailabilitySupport recommendations for:RetentionExpansionReplacementDelistingAssortment GapsIdentify:Missing brandsMissing price pointsMissing product attributesCustomer-demand gapsRecommend potential additionsStore & Channel AssortmentsSupport differentiated assortments by:Store formatLocationCustomer segmentE-commerce channelCoordinate with Assortment Planning📊 Market & Consumer AnalysisMarket ResearchMonitor category trendsAnalyze:Market growthConsumer preferencesNew product developmentsCompetitive activityEmerging categoriesConsumer InsightsAnalyze customer behavior and preferencesIdentify:Purchase trendsBasket patternsProduct preferencesPrice sensitivityDemand changesCompetitor AnalysisTrack competitors across:AssortmentPricingPromotionsBrandsProduct launchesMarket positioningAvailabilityCompetitive BenchmarkingPrepare category benchmarking reportsIdentify opportunities to improve:Price competitivenessRange breadthProduct qualityPromotional positioning💰 Pricing & Commercial ManagementPricing AnalysisAnalyze category pricingCompare:CostSelling priceCompetitor priceMarginIdentify pricing opportunities and risksPrice ArchitectureSupport appropriate pricing across:Entry-levelMainstreamPremiumLuxuryIdentify price-point gapsMargin ManagementMonitor category marginsAnalyze impact of:Cost changesDiscountsPromotionsSupplier termsProduct mixMarkdown ManagementWhere applicable:Support markdown decisionsIdentify slow-moving or end-of-life productsAnalyze markdown effectiveness🎯 Promotions & Trade ActivityPromotional PlanningSupport category promotional calendarsCoordinate with:MarketingMerchandisingSuppliersRetail OperationsPromotion SelectionIdentify products suitable for promotionsConsider:Sales potentialMarginInventorySupplier fundingCustomer demandPromotional AnalysisMeasure:Incremental salesUnitsMarginPromotional upliftCannibalizationCustomer responsePost-promotion salesSupplier-Funded PromotionsTrack promotional support provided by suppliersEnsure agreed commercial terms are accurately documented🧭 Category Management ScopeThe role may cover:Category strategyCategory planningCategory performanceCategory reviewsAssortment managementRange developmentSKU rationalizationAssortment-gap analysisStore and channel assortmentsMarket researchConsumer analysisCompetitor analysisCompetitive benchmarkingPricing analysisPrice architectureMargin managementMarkdown managementPromotional planningPromotion evaluationSupplier coordinationSupplier performanceSupplier reviewsInventory analysisAvailability managementExcess-inventory managementDemand analysisForecast collaborationNew-product introductionProduct lifecycle managementBrand managementPrivate-label managementStore performanceE-commerce category managementDigital assortmentProduct contentMerchandisingSpace productivityCategory master dataReportingCategory KPIsData analyticsStakeholder managementProcess improvementAutomation📊 Key Performance AreasPerformance may be measured against:Category sales growthCategory margin improvementMarket-share growth where applicableSKU productivityAssortment efficiencyStock availabilityStockout reductionInventory-turn improvementSell-throughExcess-inventory reductionPromotional ROINew-product success rateSKU rationalization effectivenessPricing competitivenessSupplier performanceCategory-review completionData accuracyReporting accuracyCommercial insight qualityProcess-efficiency improvementsStakeholder satisfaction🇦🇪 UAE EnvironmentThe successful candidate should understand the UAE retail and consumer environment, including the need to tailor categories to diverse customer segments, locations, store formats, and channels.Experience supporting categories across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other UAE markets is highly desirable.Experience in FMCG, supermarkets, fashion, beauty, electronics, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, luxury, specialty retail, consumer goods, e-commerce, or omnichannel retail is an advantage.Knowledge of UAE and GCC consumer trends, seasonal demand, promotional calendars, competitive retail activity, and supplier markets is beneficial.💼 Preferred Category ExperienceExperience in one or more of the following is advantageous:FMCGGroceryFood & BeverageHealth & BeautyPharmaceuticalsConsumer HealthcarePersonal CareHouseholdElectronicsFashionLuxuryHome & LivingGeneral MerchandiseSpecialty RetailE-commerce✅ What We're Looking ForDiploma or bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Retail Management, Marketing, Supply Chain, Economics, Finance, Statistics, Data Analytics, or a related discipline2–6+ years of relevant experience in category management, category analysis, merchandising, buying, assortment planning, merchandise planning, retail analytics, or commercial planningStrong analytical and numerical skillsStrong Microsoft Excel capabilityGood understanding of retail/category-management principlesCommercially minded and customer focusedStrong attention to detailAbility to analyze large datasetsGood understanding of pricing, assortment, inventory, and promotionsStrong communication and presentation skillsAbility to work cross-functionallyUAE/GCC retail experience is highly desirable🌟 Preferred QualificationsBachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant fieldCategory-management qualificationRetail-management qualificationAdvanced Excel certificationPower BI certificationSQL experienceExperience with category-management softwareMerchandise-planning experienceAssortment-planning experienceSupplier-management experiencePricing and promotion analyticsNew-product launch experienceE-commerce category experienceOmnichannel retail experienceExperience in a large or multinational retailerFluency in English is required; Arabic is an advantage🌟 What We OfferFull-time position based in the United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪Competitive salaryPerformance incentives where applicableExposure to Category Management, Merchandising, Assortment Planning, Procurement, Suppliers, and Retail OperationsProfessional development in category strategy, retail analytics, commercial planning, and supplier managementOpportunities to work with advanced retail analytics and planning systemsCareer progression toward Senior Category Specialist, Category Manager, Senior Category Manager, Buying Manager, Merchandise Planning Manager, or Commercial ManagerMulticultural working environmentComprehensive benefits package