Location: Metro Manila
Work Setup: On-site
Work Schedule: Monday to Friday
Employment Type: Full-time
Job Level: Manager
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced
Category Buyer Manager to lead the end-to-end category buying function for assigned product categories. This role is responsible for developing and executing category strategies, managing supplier relationships, driving commercial performance, optimizing product assortment, and leading a team of buyers to achieve sales, profitability, and inventory objectives.
The ideal candidate has a strong background in category management, buying, or merchandising within the retail, wholesale, FMCG, or food industry, with proven leadership and commercial management experience.
Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Management
- Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business objectives, customer demand, and market trends.
- Manage product assortment, pricing, promotions, and product lifecycle planning to maximize category performance.
- Identify growth opportunities through market analysis, customer insights, and competitive benchmarking.
- Drive sales, gross margin, and profitability while ensuring product availability and inventory efficiency.
Supplier & Commercial Management
- Lead supplier sourcing, evaluation, selection, and commercial negotiations to secure competitive pricing and favorable business terms.
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers to support business growth and innovation.
- Monitor supplier performance, product quality, and service levels while implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
- Manage trading agreements, supplier funding, and promotional partnerships.
Sales & Business Performance
- Monitor category sales, profitability, inventory turnover, and other key performance indicators.
- Analyze market trends, consumer behavior, and competitor activities to identify opportunities for growth.
- Develop and implement action plans to improve category performance and achieve financial targets.
- Prepare category reviews and business performance reports for management.
Pricing & Promotional Planning
- Develop pricing strategies that balance competitiveness, customer value, and profitability.
- Plan and execute promotional campaigns in collaboration with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
- Evaluate promotional performance and recommend improvements for future initiatives.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Supply Chain, Merchandising, Marketing, Finance, and Store Operations teams to ensure effective execution of category plans.
- Coordinate new product launches, seasonal campaigns, and assortment updates.
- Support inventory planning to minimize stock-outs, excess inventory, and product obsolescence.
Team Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Buyers and Category Specialists.
- Set performance objectives, conduct coaching sessions, and support employee development.
- Foster a collaborative, customer-focused, and results-driven team culture.
- Promote continuous improvement and operational excellence within the buying function.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Commerce, or a related field.
Experience
- Minimum of 5–8 years of experience in Category Management, Buying, Merchandising, or Commercial functions.
- At least 2–3 years of people management experience leading buying or category teams.
- Experience in the Retail, Wholesale, Supermarket, Hypermarket, Convenience, FMCG, Food Manufacturing, or Food Service industry is highly preferred.
- Proven experience managing supplier negotiations, category performance, pricing strategies, and promotional planning.
Knowledge & Skills
- Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking.
- Excellent negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales, margin, and inventory data.
- Solid understanding of category management, assortment planning, pricing strategies, and demand forecasting.
- Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Strong leadership, coaching, and team development capabilities.
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel and ERP or merchandising systems.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and problem-solving skills.
