Category Manager (Temporary Contract) - Faces

Role Overview

Category Manager (Temporary Contract) – Faces at Chalhoub Group. Location not specified in source.

Company Overview

Chalhoub Group has been a partner and creator of luxury experiences in the Middle East for over seven decades. The Group operates as a hybrid luxury retailer with a portfolio of over 10 owned brands and distribution and marketing expertise for over 400 international names across luxury fashion, beauty, jewelry, watches, eyewear, and art de vivre categories. It delivers seamless omnichannel experiences across more than 950 stores, online platforms, and mobile apps. The Group brings together over 16,000 talented professionals across eight countries in the Middle East, with a presence in LATAM. Chalhoub Group has earned Great Place to Work® certification in several markets. Sustainability is at the core of the Group's strategy, guided by commitment to people, partners, and the planet. The Group is a member of the United Nations Global Compact, a signatory of the Women's Empowerment Principles, and has pledged to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Role Purpose

You will be responsible for defining and driving the offer and purchasing strategy for different product categories and brands. You will define the action plan for categories, merchandising, promotional activities, prices, and negotiations to ensure optimal category performance and revenue generation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Business Development

• Develop the business plan of the Department in line with the strategic objectives of the Brand.
• Define the offer strategy for the stores in the designated area in alignment with the brand's values.
• Validate the strategy with the GM/Captain.
• Drive the development of the margin and the budgetary objectives.

Performance Management & Objectives

• Formulate and communicate the Department performance objectives and continuously monitor progress and alignment towards strategic objectives.
• Benchmark current performance versus the competition and the peer market.
• Create different tools to improve the categories' performance.
• Manage segmentation, seasonal activities, and action plans for the stores; follow up on the results.
• Prepare the periodic category reviews.

Operations & Governance

• Develop the Department policies and procedures in order to ensure the fulfilment of organizational requirements.
• Oversee the operations of the Department, provide expertise, encourage teamwork and facilitate related professional work processes in order to achieve high-performance standards and staff pride in contribution.
• Monitor the yearly budget of the Department and control expenditure to ensure optimal use.

Category & Inventory Management

• Manage the existing catalogue, optimizing on the mix at the points of sale.
• Identify the products with potential and research new products.
• Develop a wide range of services (skincare, make up, lessons, etc.) to be adapted to each category.
• Negotiate with suppliers for the stock returns (discontinued and slow movers).

Supplier & Brand Relations

• Create partnerships with the brands and follow up on the results.
• Handle the negotiations with existing and potential partners.
• Negotiate annual commercial agreements and the commercialization of advertising spaces with the brands.
• Optimize the merchandising plan and the allocation of space versus the volume of margin.
• Develop new merchandising aids, tools, and new concepts.
• Coordinate new openings (Brands/Merchandising/Promotions) or refitting of sales areas.
• Register newly imported brands to the market, in compliance with the regulations of each country.

Pricing & Promotions

• Benchmark current pricing versus the competition and the peer market.
• Recommend adjustments on the pricing policy to the GM/Captain.
• Handle the production of the annual calendar for the brands promotions, launches, etc.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Assess the requirements and coordinate with relevant internal and external stakeholders (Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Suppliers, Category Managers and Logistics).

People Management

• Assign individual objectives for employee performance management purposes, manage performance, empower staff, and provide formal and informal feedback in order to support professional development and maximize performance.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 4 years of Category Management experience.
• Background in beauty, make up, and wellness is a plus.
• Passion and love for beauty products.

Skills & Competencies

• Commercial acumen.
• Excellent English communication skills.

Additional Information

• Contract type: Temporary Contract.
• Benefits include health care, child education contribution, remote and flexible working policies, and exclusive employee discounts.
• Assessments and interviews should be completed independently and without assistance from generative AI tools.
• Chalhoub Group is committed to inclusion and diversity and welcomes all applicants without regard to gender, age, race, religion, national origin or disability status.