Job description
Role Overview
Category Manager at Miral Destinations, located in Abu Dhabi. You will manage end-to-end product categories, ensuring the right products are developed, sourced, and delivered to meet guest expectations and business objectives.
Company Overview
Miral Experiences is a region's leader in the management and operation of world-class, award-winning immersive attractions and experiences across Abu Dhabi. The diverse portfolio includes Ferrari World Yas Island Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Yas Island Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi, CLYMB™ Yas Island Abu Dhabi, TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi, and cultural treasures like Qasr Al Watan. The company specializes in crafting unique experiences that cater to all tastes and ages, delivering a seamless blend of thrills, joy, and discovery.
Role Purpose
You will own the complete product category lifecycle across assigned retail categories, from concept and sourcing through to market delivery, ensuring alignment with guest expectations, regulatory requirements, and commercial targets while collaborating across multiple business functions.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development & Category Management
- Manage the development and execution of retail product ranges within assigned categories.
- Identify new product opportunities, market trends, and sourcing solutions to enhance category performance.
- Manage products through the full lifecycle, from concept to market.
- Contribute to category growth strategies and long-term business objectives.
Supplier & Vendor Relations
- Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, vendors, and licensing partners.
- Work with licensed brands, intellectual property (IP), and character merchandise.
Commercial Planning & Analysis
- Collaborate closely with Merchandise Planning teams on buy plans, forecasting, inventory management, and intake schedules.
- Monitor sales, stock performance, and margin targets to drive commercial results.
- Analyze sales and inventory data to make commercial decisions.
- Manage budgeting, gross profit management, and open-to-buy planning.
Compliance & Operations
- Ensure products meet UAE regulatory, testing, and compliance requirements.
- Support pricing, product setup, visual merchandising standards, and purchase order processes.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work cross-functionally with Planning, Inventory, Compliance, Finance, Operations, and Marketing teams.
- Support events, seasonal activations, annual pass initiatives, and other commercial opportunities.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
- Minimum 7 years of experience in retail buying and product development.
- Proven experience managing products through the full lifecycle, from concept to market.
- Strong supplier and vendor management experience.
- Experience analyzing sales and inventory data to make commercial decisions.
- Knowledge of budgeting, gross profit management, and open-to-buy planning.
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
Preferred
- Experience within theme parks, attractions, entertainment, destination retail, or leisure industries.
- Experience working with licensed brands, intellectual property (IP), and character merchandise.
- Experience working with regional or international brands across the GCC.
Skills & Competencies
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and retail systems.
- Commercially minded and results-driven.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
- Proactive and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Collaborative team player with strong relationship-building capabilities.
- Fluent in English; additional languages are an advantage.