Category Manager - Confectionery

Job description / Role

About Careem

Careem is building the Everything App for the greater Middle East, making it easier than ever to move around, order food and groceries, manage payments, and more. Careem is led by a powerful purpose to simplify and improve the lives of people and build an awesome organization that inspires. Since 2012, Careem has created earnings for over 2.5 million Captains, simplified the lives of over 70 million customers, and built a platform for the region's best talent to thrive and for entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. Careem operates in over 70 cities across 10 countries, from Morocco to Pakistan.

About the Team

Careem Grocery is on a mission to reinvent the way people shop for groceries, pharmacy, and retail products. As a dynamic new vertical within Careem, we are essentially a startup within a startup, poised at the brink of significant growth and innovation in Saudi Arabia. Joining us now means being part of the foundational team that will tackle exciting challenges and drive groundbreaking solutions. Imagine the opportunity to shape the online grocery industry and make a tangible difference in the lives of millions in our region.

What You'll Do

• Collaborate with the GM to craft and execute a groundbreaking strategy for developing innovative categories that will pioneer the Saudi e-commerce market.
• Engage with suppliers and partners to source top-tier products and brands, ensuring our customers receive the best possible experience.
• Develop and streamline the process for our imported range, covering everything from international sourcing to regulatory compliance and cross-border logistics.
• Maximize value from suppliers and brands through strategic negotiations on commercial terms, campaign support, and advertising contributions.
• Continuously refine and adapt assortment strategies using data-driven insights to reflect market trends, local preferences, and the evolving e-grocery and q-commerce landscape.
• Collaborate with supply chain and store operations teams to create smooth logistical processes.

What You'll Need

• A passion for enhancing people's lives through technology, with a strong focus on excellence and customer-centricity.
• At least 6+ years of experience in the food or FMCG retail sector in buying or category management. Experience in tech or startups, especially in e-commerce, is a plus.
• A deep understanding of the Saudi Arabian grocery/convenience market, with a keen interest in disrupting and innovating the current approach to business.
• Proven experience in international sourcing with strong supplier relationships.
• Exceptional negotiation skills with experience in business development, FMCG, or brand partnerships. You thrive in building and nurturing relationships with brands.
• Outstanding communication and influencing skills, capable of simplifying complex concepts for any audience.
• A curious mindset and an enthusiastic approach to joining an early-stage venture. You are results-driven and always ready to tackle new challenges head-on.
• Relentless grit. You are hands-on, determined, and persevering, always pushing through when others might give up.

What We'll Provide You

We offer colleagues the opportunity to drive impact in the region while they learn and grow. As a full-time Careem colleague, you will be able to:

• Work and learn from great minds by joining a community of inspiring colleagues.
• Put your passion to work in a purposeful organization dedicated to creating impact in a region with a lot of untapped potential.
• Explore new opportunities to learn and grow every day.
• Work 4 days a week in the office and 1 day from home, and remotely from any country in the world for 30 days a year with unlimited vacation days per year. (If you are in an individual contributor role in tech, you will have 2 office days a week and 3 to work from home.)
• Access to healthcare benefits and fitness reimbursements for health activities including gym, health club, and training classes.

About the Company

We are a brand that aims to simplify people's lives by revolutionizing the transportation industry. A brand that strives to inspire everyone it interacts with, and supports every single person who dares to believe. #BeCareem

Careem is the MENA region's leading ride-hailing service and newest Tech Unicorn. With 30% monthly growth, we now operate in 50+ cities across 11 countries and host over 6 million users. With our recent Series D funding success, we are positioned on the cusp of significant scale and well on target to deliver our goal of creating one million jobs in the region by 2018.