Category Buyer Manager

Category Buyer Manager

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.