Category Manager / Buyer - Retail

Job description / Role

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group's entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day

Overview of the role:
The Jobholder will be responsible for supporting the Head of Commercial with the development of the Health & Lifestyle Category to maximize sales and gross margin objectives while managing inventory objectives for specific brands. Develops strategic objectives to ensure long-term sustained growth across all markets.

What you will do:
- Develop implement and deliver category plans including range reviews, promotions pricing and stock that are consistent with overall commercial strategy and financial objectives.
- Collaborate with the Marketing team to develop and implement marketing promotion plans and strategies relevant to the category; adhere to legislation and brand guidelines'; and clearly and effectively communicate with the customer, driving footfall and profitable sales.
- Review and evaluate the effectiveness of promotions, taking appropriate action where necessary, and sharing best practices with peers and other stakeholders.
- Work with Exclusive Brands to develop and deliver exclusive products/ranges that deliver increased participation and meet agreed strategy and plans.
- Working in partnership with the planning team, agree on a merchandising strategy that drives and delivers the right range in the right store; ensures availability in the store; and controls of slow-moving stock.
- Identify and implement new product opportunities that are competitively priced, commercially viable and meet customer needs, driving sales and profitability.
- Manage and review pricing, ensuring pricing that is competitive and maximizes profitability. Operate within the Company pricing strategy.
- Working in conjunction with the Planning team to ensure base sales and promotional forecasts are adhered to, whilst maintaining in-store availability to meet the customer's needs.
- Develop effective internal working relationships with cross functional team members to support and enhance category objectives and performance
- Develop build and maintain effective external relationships to enhance the Watsons proposition and meet customer needs.
- Adopt appropriate negotiation strategies to attain the best terms for the category and the business.
Category expert - utilise and continually develop knowledge in category products, competitors and market activity to deliver increased category performance objectives.

Requirements

Required Skills to be successful
- Strong analytical skills
- Very strong commercial awareness and creative skills.
- Proven negotiation skills.
- Decisive and able to work in a super fast-paced environment
- Strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
- Display delegation skills, priorities within delegated tasks and manage deadlines.
- Practice excellent time management skills and ability to cope under pressure

What equips you for the role:

Minimum Qualification and Knowledge:

Education : Must possess at least a Bachelor's Degree/ Professional Degree/ Post Graduate or equivalent.

Minimum Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of experience as a Buyer in a retail environment (Health and Beauty)

Preferably someone with experience in Retail.

Behavioral Competencies :
- Uses sound judgment when making decisions
- Act with integrity and respect
- Adapt to changes required by the business
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to manage promptly and independently also unexpected events and issues
- Ability to identify priorities and organize and plan activities to ensure proper and timely execution
- Ability to work as a member of a team
- Able to travel

About Al-Futtaim Retail

Al-Futtaim Retail has established itself as one of the leaders in Retail across the Middle East, Africa & Asia over the past 30 years. We have developed partnerships with some of the biggest and most respected Brands in the world including IKEA, ACE and Toys R Us in the Middle East and the Inditex Group of Brands (Zara, Mango, Bershka and P&B) across Asia. We are also one of the largest Global partners of Marks and Spencer's in both regions with over 75 stores offering both fashion & food options.

Most recently we have been responsible for bringing brands to the Middle East for the first time with the exciting launches of Watsons and B&Q and we aim to continue to be agile and adaptive to our markets with new launches and further development. For this to be possible we aim to recruit the best talent from all backgrounds who will continue to challenge and develop our diverse workforce which includes over 100 nationalities across 12 countries. Join us today and make a difference

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.