Manager

Manager - Brands & CommercialReports to: Head of D2CAbout the RoleWe are looking for a sharp, commercially minded operator who can understand what is happening in the business, form a clear point of view, and act quickly.You will work closely with the Head of D2C and act as the commercial point of truth across brands, the market and StarZen's omnichannel business.This is not a reporting role. It is not a pure buying role. It is not a strategy role.You are expected to understand the numbers, make the commercial call, and drive action.What You Will Own1. Brand IntelligenceWhat are our brands telling us?You will work closely with brands and distributors and maintain a clear view of:upcoming launches and product roadmapssupply and allocationscommercial terms and incentivesvendor fundingchannel prioritiesopportunities and risksYou should know what is coming early enough for StarZen to act on it.2. Market IntelligenceWhat is the market telling us?You will continuously understand:competitor pricingassortmentavailabilitypromotionsnew launcheschanging customer demandcategory and market movementsWe are not looking for someone who simply sends competitor screenshots.We want someone who can say: "This matters. This doesn't. Here is what we should do."3. Commercial TruthWhat are our own numbers telling us?You will understand the business deeply, including at SKU level. You will regularly work across:salesgross marginstockageingsell-throughavailabilitypricingpromotionsbrand and category performanceretail and e-commerce performanceWhen different teams have different explanations for what is happening, you should be able to establish the commercial truth.4. Commercial ActionWhat are we doing about it?Analysis must result in action. Depending on the situation, that could mean:buying more stockstopping or reducing buyschanging pricesnegotiating with a vendorsecuring additional allocationmoving stock between channelschanging the assortmentstarting or stopping a promotionsecuring vendor fundingclearing ageing inventorychanging the commercial planBuying is an important part of the role. You will be expected to make sound decisions on what to buy, how much to buy and why.You will have a Commercial Operations Executive supporting you with POs, master data, trackers and recurring administrative work. Your time should be spent on commercial judgement, decisions, negotiation and execution.What this looks like in practice:"Stop the promotion. We're giving away four points of margin and it isn't creating incremental volume. The competitor moved price on two hero SKUs, not the category. We match those two, hold everything else, and move the vendor funding into the flagship line." And by the same afternoon, the vendor conversation has happened, pricing is aligned, and execution is already moving.Who We Are Looking ForWe are looking for someone who has personally owned a P&L, category, or business line's outcome, not managed a team that did. Beyond that, you should be:commercially sharpvery strong with numbersfast and decisivestreet smarthighly curioushungry to buildcomfortable operating with incomplete informationstrong in negotiationrelentless about follow-throughwilling to challenge assumptionscomfortable getting hands dirtyYou should be the kind of person who spots a problem in the morning and has already started solving it before lunch.Preferred ExperienceIdeally, you will have 4-8 years of relevant experience, preferably across one or more of:consumer electronicssmartphonese-commercemarketplaceselectronics retailD2C consumer brandshigh-growth consumer businessesUndergraduate education from IIT Kharagpur, Madras, Bombay, or Delhi, or BITS Pilani is a strong plus.Relevant current or previous roles could include:Category ManagerSenior Category ManagerCategory Business ManagerBusiness ManagerCommercial ManagerGTM ManagerE-commerce Business ManagerBuyer with broader commercial ownershipWe care more about what you have actually owned and delivered than your job title. The strongest fit is often not the most senior title at a company - it is the person already operating above their current scope.You Will Likely Have Experience Inowning a category or business targetpurchasing and inventory decisionspricing and promotionsworking with gross margin and profitabilityvendor and brand negotiationsinventory and ageing managementproduct launchescompetitor analysisworking with detailed commercial datataking action when performance is off planWhat This Role Is NotWe are not looking for someone who is only:a procurement specialista report creatora business analysta strategy/deck persona vendor relationship managera corporate coordinatorYou need to be able to think and execute.Your Job in One LineKnow what the brands, the market and our own numbers are telling us, and make sure we do something about it.