Category Manager

This role is for one of Weekday’s clients
Salary range: Rs 1500000 - Rs 2000000 (ie INR 15 - 20 LPA)

Min Experience: 3+ years
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, Bengaluru
JobType: full-time

We are looking for an experienced and results-oriented Category Manager to manage and grow assigned product categories while driving procurement efficiency, commercial performance, and supplier relationships. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in Category Management and Procurement, along with a good understanding of inventory planning and optimization.

The role requires a combination of strategic thinking, analytical ability, negotiation skills, and strong stakeholder management. You will be responsible for developing category strategies, identifying sourcing opportunities, managing vendors, negotiating commercial terms, monitoring market trends, and ensuring the right products are available at the right cost and time.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive category management strategies aligned with business objectives, customer demand, and market trends.
• Own category performance, including assortment, pricing, margins, procurement costs, availability, and overall commercial outcomes.
• Lead end-to-end procurement activities, including supplier identification, evaluation, negotiations, purchase planning, and vendor management.
• Conduct market research and competitor analysis to identify emerging trends, pricing movements, new suppliers, and category opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and negotiate pricing, payment terms, service levels, quality standards, and contracts.
• Evaluate supplier performance based on cost, quality, delivery timelines, reliability, and compliance.
• Work closely with internal teams such as sales, finance, operations, supply chain, and product teams to align category plans with business requirements.
• Analyze category-level data and prepare reports covering sales, procurement spend, margins, pricing, availability, and supplier performance.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization, process improvement, alternate sourcing, and improved commercial terms.
• Support assortment planning by evaluating product performance, customer demand, market potential, and profitability.
• Monitor inventory levels and collaborate with supply chain teams to minimize stock-outs, excess inventory, and slow-moving products.
• Track purchase orders, delivery schedules, lead times, and supplier commitments to ensure timely availability.
• Establish and monitor key category KPIs and take corrective actions based on performance trends.
• Stay updated on industry developments, supplier landscapes, consumer/customer preferences, and competitive activity.

Must-Have Skills

• Strong expertise in Category Management with experience managing one or more product categories.
• Hands-on experience in Procurement, sourcing, vendor management, and commercial negotiations.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills with the ability to translate category data into actionable business decisions.
• Excellent negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.
• Strong understanding of pricing, margins, cost structures, and procurement processes.
• Ability to develop and execute category strategies independently.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and familiarity with procurement, ERP, or category management tools.

Good-to-Have Skills

• Experience in Inventory Management, demand planning, and stock optimization.
• Understanding of supply chain processes and inventory forecasting.
• Exposure to e-commerce, retail, FMCG, consumer products, manufacturing, or related industries.
• Experience working with procurement analytics, dashboards, and category performance reports.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations, or a related discipline.
• 3–6 years of relevant experience in Category Management, Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, or Vendor Management.
• Candidates should demonstrate a strong track record of improving category performance, optimizing procurement costs, and building effective supplier partnerships.