Category Head - Retail (10-20 yrs)

Job Title: Category Head

Location: Delhi, India

Reports To: CEO/Co-founder

Job Type: Full-Time

About The NewShop

Founded in March 2019, by Charak and Aastha Almast and Mani Dev Gyawali, New Shop is a chain of 24-7-365 convenience retail stores with omni-channel presence to serve all your daily needs products snacks and beverages, personal care, home care, pet care, confectionery, hygiene needs, ready to eat food, Over-the-counter drugs, and grocery staples.

Charak and Mani Dev graduated from University of Louisiana and founded 2 other startups (Smartican and ProductX Ventures) before starting Apnaklub. Aastha is an IIM- Calcutta graduate and has Co-founded Smartican before starting Apnaklub. The startup currently has over 50 outlets in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and in some parts of UP and Haryana. It is now planning to expand to more geographies in UP, MP, Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra and the startup is also in talks with investors to raise a large Series B round. We are a fast-paced, high-growth operations-heavy company based in Delhi, committed to delivering outstanding results through a dynamic workforce and a solid revenue.

We are seeking a dedicated and highly ethical Category Head to lead the strategy, development, and growth. This role will be responsible for overseeing the entire lifecycle of the category, from product sourcing to go-to-market strategies, driving revenue, and ensuring optimal category performance, particularly in a high-pressure, aggressive environment. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced setting and is passionate about scaling talent quickly and effectively.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Leadership

- Develop and execute the overall category strategy aligned with the company's business goals and objectives.

- Lead market and competitor analysis to identify opportunities for growth, product differentiation, and innovation.

- Manage and optimize the product assortment to maximize profitability and meet consumer demand.

- Establish clear KPIs for the category and track performance against set targets.

Product Lifecycle Management

- Oversee product selection, development, and end-to-end lifecycle management.

- Collaborate with product development, sourcing, and supply chain teams to ensure timely launch and availability of products.

- Continuously assess and optimize the product offering to meet market trends, customer needs, and competitive dynamics.

Revenue & Profitability Management

- Own P&L responsibilities for the category, ensuring that revenue and profitability targets are met.

- Monitor category performance, identify gaps, and implement corrective actions to drive financial results.

- Work closely with the pricing and finance teams to ensure competitive pricing strategies that maximize margin.

Vendor & Supplier Relationship Management

- Build and nurture strong relationships with key suppliers, manufacturers, and partners to drive business growth.

- Negotiate favorable terms, pricing, and agreements to benefit the category's growth and margin targets.

- Ensure supply chain efficiencies to meet demand and improve inventory turnover.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Work with the marketing team to develop compelling product marketing campaigns and promotions.

- Partner with the sales team to create effective sales strategies and training programs.

- Coordinate with operations and logistics teams to streamline supply chain processes, ensuring product availability.

Team Leadership & Development

- Lead and mentor a team of category managers and associates, fostering a high-performance culture.

- Conduct regular performance reviews, provide feedback, and support career development for team members.

- Collaborate with HR to recruit, train, and retain top talent for the category team.

Data-Driven Decision Making

- Utilize data analytics and consumer insights to drive decision-making for assortment planning, pricing, and promotional strategies.

- Leverage category data to identify trends, optimize inventory levels, and ensure demand forecasting accuracy.

- Prepare and present regular reports on category performance, market trends, and actionable insights to senior management.

Required Qualifications & Skills

- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Retail Management, or related field.

- Minimum 10+ years of experience with at least 3 years in a leadership role.

- Strong business acumen with a proven track record of driving revenue and profitability in a category management or retail environment.

- Highly ethical individual with due diligence towards business and personal ethics.

- In-depth understanding of product lifecycle management, pricing strategies, and supply chain optimization.

- Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills.

- Strong analytical skills with the ability to leverage data to drive strategic decisions.

- Leadership experience with the ability to motivate, guide, and develop a team.