Category Manager - Tobacco

General Information

Qatar-Doha

About the role

• As a Category Manager, your overall responsibility is to optimize sales for a particular group of products.
• You will drive the pricing, shelving, marketing and promotions of the category's products in order to make them as visible, accessible, and appealing to customers as possible.
• You will also act as an expert in the basic marketing success formula - the right products at the right time for the right price.
• Key Accountabilities Include But Are Not Limited To
• Define and implement the category strategy and plans based on department/company initiatives, consumer and market trends.
• Lead, motivate and direct a team of buyers and deliver business results across all metrics.
• Contribute to the profitability of the Category by increasing the volume of products that are sold within the category and improving the speed of inventory turnover within the category.
• Assist or take charge of the ordering, pricing, and in-store organization of products in order to achieve category goals.
• Familiarize with product knowledge, consumer needs, buying practices, and retail environment related to the category to meet the sales goals.
• Maintain a productive relationship with suppliers that are mutually beneficial, as well as create an engaging relationship with customers that are interactive and satisfying.
• Ensuring right selection, availability, and acquisition of products in respective category via effective communications and cooperative relationship with suppliers.
• Responsible for negotiating pricing, delivery and payment terms with vendors to ensure profit margin of the products are maximized.
• Responsible for setting competitive pricing points and adjusting the pricing to increase sales and clear out stagnant items from inventory.
• Expand successful product lines and implement successful exit strategies for unsuccessful unpopular merchandise.
• Successful marketing of the product or product line by using the right formula which includes pricing and availability, balanced with consumer demand.
• Manage inventory to maximize the profitability of the inventory flow by effectively planning and forecasting by balancing projected forecasts and actual sales, creating trend forecasts and implementing sales plans.
• Work in partnership with Retail and Marketing department to ensure effective marketing of products on the shop floor.
• Review performance of the category and department financials (i.e. Profit and Loss Statement) weekly/monthly in conjunction with the Management and reacting as necessary to improve the effect and monitor product selection which suits the business.
• Be part of an extraordinary story
• Your skills.
• Your imagination.
• Your ambition.
• Here, there are no boundaries to your potential and the impact you can make.
• You’ll find infinite opportunities to grow and work on the biggest, most rewarding challenges that will build your skills and experience.
• You have the chance to be a part of our future and build the life you want while being part of an international community.
• Our best is here and still to come.
• To us, impossible is only a challenge.
• Join us as we dare to achieve what’s never been done before.

The Successful Candidate Will Have The Following

• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent with Minimum 6 years of job-related experience; OR
• High School Qualification / Vocational Qualification /Diploma or Equivalent (Type of Diploma Based on Role) with Minimum 7 years of job-related experience

Skills And Experience

• Experience of managing high performance procurement in travel retail industry, preferably in a strategic setting in a large size organisation
• Direct hands-on experience in Inventory Management system
• Business / Purchasing qualification
• Strong analytical skills and negotiation skills
• Strong problem solver. Ability to adapt in every situation to find solution
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills
• Specialist knowledge of sourcing, buying, product development and stock management principles and best practices
• Knowledge of processes and practices to research and understand and evaluate customer needs, market trends and analysis
• Knowledge in Travel Retail is a distinct advantage
• Intimate knowledge of branded products. Track record in purchasing excellence - margin improvement range success and promotions
• Comfortable presenting ideas and concepts to groups of varying seniority and levels within an organisation; ability to contribute in a cross-functional team environment.
• Administration and management - knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources
• Strong commitment to confidentiality
• Ability to organise and prioritize tasks on regular basis
• Able to work on deadlines and work under pressure
• Well-developed lateral and analytical thinking skills
• Excellent project management skills, able to deliver tasks within tight deadline
• Managerial skills - Ability to delegate work, set clear direction and manage workflow. Strong mentoring and coaching skills

About Qatar Airways Group