Acute & Specialty Medication Category Department Manager (2023695)

Role Overview

Acute & Specialty Medication Category Department Manager at Nahdi, managing the end-to-end delivery of an assigned product category within the Merchandise Division.

Role Purpose

Lead category strategy, portfolio management, supplier partnerships, and pricing optimization to drive sustainable sales growth, profitability, and exceptional customer experience across all stores.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Develop and execute category strategy in line with division commercial objectives.
• Analyze market trends, customer insights, and competitor activities to identify growth opportunities.
• Build and maintain optimal product assortment balancing innovation, profitability, and customer demand.
• Manage category revenue, profitability, SKU portfolio, and store coverage.

Product Lifecycle Management

• Lead product listing and delisting decisions based on performance analysis, market demand, and supplier negotiations.
• Introduce new and exclusive products to strengthen Nahdi's competitive advantage.
• Ensure all products comply with regulatory requirements and internal quality standards.

Supplier & Commercial Partnership Management

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with suppliers to negotiate commercial agreements, rebates, and promotional support.
• Lead Joint Business Planning (JBP) initiatives with key suppliers to maximize commercial performance and supply chain efficiency.
• Ensure suppliers meet contractual commitments related to pricing, promotions, product availability, and service levels.

Pricing & Promotion Management

• Develop and implement category pricing strategies in collaboration with Finance and Marketing to maximize profitability.
• Secure supplier investments, marketing funds, promotional budgets, and commercial discounts.
• Monitor promotional performance and adjust pricing and promotional activities to optimize sales and margins.

Store Fulfillment & Inventory Optimization

• Partner with Supply Chain and Merchandise Planning teams to maintain optimal inventory levels across all stores.
• Define Minimum Display Quantities (MDQ) and distribution strategies to ensure product availability while minimizing stock shortages.
• Collaborate with Merchandising and Store Operations to ensure planogram compliance and effective in-store execution.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Marketing to develop impactful customer communication and promotional campaigns.
• Partner with Finance to optimize category profitability, gross margins, and working capital.
• Collaborate with Operations and Store teams to ensure seamless product availability and execution.

Performance & People Management

• Establish and monitor key category performance indicators, including sales growth, gross margin, inventory turnover, and commercial performance.
• Develop and continuously improve operating procedures, processes, and reporting frameworks to enhance operational efficiency.
• Lead, coach, and develop the category team, fostering a high-performance culture and supporting career growth.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Retail Management, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• 10 years in retail or FMCG category management.
• At least 3 years in a managerial role.

Skills & Competencies

• Proficiency in MS Office.
• Proficiency in ERP systems.
• Proficiency in category analytics tools.
• English language.
• Arabic language (preferred).

Additional Information

• Work environment: 85% indoors, 15% outdoors for supplier meetings and market visits.
• Working days: 5 days per week.
• Days off: 2 days per week.
• Working hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM with 1-hour break.