CATEGORY MANAGER: RENOWNED GLOBAL HOMEWARE BRAND – BOLAND
Retail Buyer – Marketing, Category Manager – Marketing
Somerset West – Western Cape
Own the category. Lead the range.
We have a tremendous hybrid opportunity for a dynamic and experienced Senior Category Manager to join the team at a renowned, global homeware brand in Somerset West.
This is a role for a commercially sharp, detail-driven Category Manager who will take ownership of the full product and category management strategy across multiple ranges, ensuring everything from range planning and product selection to forecasting, stock optimisation, and supplier management is aligned with global brand direction, local market needs, and commercial performance targets.
Working closely with international stakeholders and cross-functional teams, you’ll use data and insight to guide decisions, refine assortments, and drive category growth. From pricing and margin management to launch planning and inventory control, your focus will be on delivering the right products, at the right time, in the right way to maximise performance across the South African market.
If you’re experienced within a luxury or premium brand environment and enjoy combining strategy, analysis, and hands-on execution to drive results, this is a standout opportunity. Apply today.
Responsibilities
Range & Product Strategy
- Develop and implement seasonal and annual buying plans aligned with international brand strategy and local business objectives.
- Lead product selection across all categories including cookware, bakeware, accessories, kitchen tools, and limited editions.
- Work closely with global counterparts to localise assortments for South Africa’s customer and climate profile.
Demand & Sales Forecasting
- Analyse historical data, market trends, and sales forecasts to create accurate demand plans.
- Work with planning and logistics teams to ensure product availability and optimal stock levels.
Supplier Management
- Manage relationships with the global supply chain teams and other approved vendors.
- Liaise with international counterparts on product timelines, order placement, and availability.
- Ensure all sourcing aligns with brand standards for quality, ethics, and sustainability.
Stock Management
- Monitor and manage stock levels to minimise overstock and stockouts.
- Propose markdowns or promotional actions to optimise ageing stock in line with brand image.
- Ensure optimal balancing across our Distribution Centres and channels.
- Driving excellence in inventory management and upkeep across all channels; along with implementation of protocol to mitigate stock losses.
- Monitor rate of return and stock losses across all categories and make recommendations accordingly.
Product Launch & Merchandising
- Partner with marketing, ecommerce, and retail teams to support product launches and campaigns; monitoring and flagging delays in product launches to relevant stakeholders.
Pricing & Margin Management
- Set local retail and wholesale pricing strategies in line with global pricing guidelines and local market realities.
- Analyse profitability by SKU and category; recommend pricing changes as needed.
Reporting & Analysis
- Provide regular reporting on sales, stock, and profitability performance by range.
- Identify gaps and opportunities in the assortment and propose corrective action. Carry out from time to time and as directed, tasks in addition to the above that will be both reasonable and within your capabilities.
Requirements
The successful candidate must have/be:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain, or a related field.
- 5–7 years of experience in a retail buying role, ideally within premium or international consumer brands.
- Strong analytical skills and experience with demand planning tools and Excel/ERP systems.
- Proficiency with Power BI for reporting purposes
- Excellent negotiation, supplier management, and communication skills.
- Deep understanding of the South African retail landscape and consumer behaviour.
- Luxury or Premium Brand experience and an appreciation of premium/luxury positioning and brand equity.
- Experience working with global stakeholders and adhering to brand governance.
- Commercial acumen and decision-making.
- Strategic thinking with attention to operational detail.
- Strong interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
- High integrity and alignment with company values.
- Experience in Logility is advantageous
- Experience with Salesforce Commerce Cloud or similar ecommerce platforms.
- Familiarity with D365
- Passion for cookware, kitchenware, and lifestyle/home categories.
- Adaptability.
- Communication (Oral, Written & Listening): Adapts oral and written communications to audience and fosters clear and effective communication with others. Is able to build relationships and interact effectively across functions, seniority levels, personalities and cultures with confidence. Actively listens. Displays accuracy.
- Decisiveness
- Flexibility
- Resilient
- Target oriented.
- Able to manage time to maximise productivity.
- Team player who displays empathy and actively supports other team members when under pressure.
If you don’t have the relevant experience required for this role, please consider your application unsuccessful.
City: Somerset West
Level of Expertise: Senior
Remuneration: Negotiable
Consultant: Viv
Reference Number: #Viv3149
