Head of Category - Retail

ROLE SUMMARYThe Head of Category / Brand will define and lead the strategic direction of the assigned brand(s) / product categories across all assigned markets, with full accountability for commercial performance and P&L. This role sets the vision for the category / brand(s), driving profitability, innovation, and customer satisfaction. The role owns product assortments, buying, merchandising, and inventory, ensuring global consistency while enabling local market adaptation.ROLE RESPONSIBILITIESGlobal Category Strategy & Leadership:Define and own the long-term (3–5 year) global category / brand(s) strategy, aligning with brand(s) vision and securing senior leadership endorsement.Lead product innovation and differentiation, anticipating customer needs and industry trends to build a competitive advantage.Set a unified strategy across regions, defining the framework within which local markets adapt.Assortment Planning & Buying:Approve assortment architecture and Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets, balancing market demand, category / brand(s) positioning, and profitability.Direct the product mix and global buying strategy, leading negotiations and strategic partnerships with key suppliers and brand principals, including annual business planning and commercial terms.Merchandising & Allocations:Set merchandising strategies that uphold category / brand(s) guidelines while responding to local preferences.Own inventory strategy and allocation across markets to maximize stock productivity, reduce costs, and minimize imbalances within working capital targets.Category(s) / Brand(s) Performance & Reporting:Own the category / brand(s) P&L and key performance indicators (sales, gross margin, stock turn, sell-through), presenting performance reviews and recommendations to executive leadership.Use data and insight to make commercial decisions, prioritize investment, and take corrective action to achieve targets.Collaboration & Cross-functional Leadership:Act as the senior commercial lead for the category / brand(s), partnering with Marketing, Retail Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure seamless execution across regions.Influence and align senior stakeholders on strategy, investment, and results, contributing to wider business decisions as part of the commercial leadership team.Team Leadership & Development:Lead, structure, and develop a global category team of Category Managers, Buyers, and Planners, setting clear objectives and fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.Build leadership capability and succession within the team, developing future commercial leaders.Market(s) Expansion & Trends:Identify emerging trends, market shifts, and growth opportunities, including new brands, markets, and formats, and lead the business cases to pursue them.ROLE REQUIREMENTSBachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field; a postgraduate degree (e.g. MBA) is advantageous.10+ years in category management, buying, or merchandising within multi-brand retail, including a minimum of 3 years in a senior leadership role.Proven track record of owning and growing a multi-market category or brand P&L.Experience leading and developing managers and multi-disciplinary teams.Senior-level negotiation experience with major international brands and suppliers.Advanced knowledge of inventory optimization and SAP ERP; strong command of Power BI and data analytics for commercial decision-making.Exceptional strategic planning, commercial judgement, and stakeholder influence.Strong leadership, mentoring, and communication skills, with the ability to present confidently to executive leadership.