Category Manager Japanese shoe brand start up BGC Taguig

Job Purpose

The Category Manager acts as the Category Owner for assigned categories. He is accountable for driving category business performance through category strategy, assortment planning, demand forecasting, pricing recommendations, inventory productivity, purchase quantity planning, launch prioritization, and category performance management.

The role serves as the primary interface between HQ Category Divisions and local business functions.

While channel ownership remains with Retail and E-Commerce functions and overall business accountability remains with the Country Manager, the Category Manager is expected to lead category performance discussions, identify business opportunities and risks, and influence cross-functional actions to achieve category objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Planning

Own category strategy and seasonal business planning.

Develop assortment architecture and category priorities.

Lead category reviews and identify business opportunities and risks.

Product Merchandising & Assortment Management

Lead seasonal assortment planning and buying processes.

Recommend product mix, pricing architecture, and lifecycle plans.

Provide local market input to HQ Category Divisions.

Demand Forecasting, Purchasing & Inventory Management

Lead demand forecasting and purchase quantity planning.

Develop seasonal purchase quantity recommendations based on forecast, inventory position and commercial objectives.

Monitor DIO, inventory turn, aged inventory and stock productivity.

Recommend corrective actions to improve inventory health.

Category Launch Leadership

Define hero products and launch priorities.

Partner with Brand Marketing to ensure category strategies are reflected in activation plans.

Drive launch readiness across channels.

Category Performance Management

Own category business reviews.

Monitor category sales, gross profit, gross margin and inventory productivity.

Lead cross-functional category performance reviews and align RT, EC and Brand Marketing teams on actions required to achieve category objectives.

• Recommend and track corrective actions required to improve category performance.

Cross-Functional Business Leadership

Lead category performance discussions across functions.

Influence RT, EC, and Brand Marketing priorities in line with category needs.

Act as the category expert and champion across the organization.

KPI

Category Net Sales (Outcome KPI)

Category Gross Profit (Outcome KPI)

Category Gross Margin % (Outcome KPI)

Seasonal Sell-through %

Full Price Sell-through %

Assortment Productivity

Hero Product Performance

Forecast Accuracy

Purchase Quantity Accuracy

Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO)

Inventory Turn

Weeks of Cover

Aged Inventory %

On-time Launch Readiness

Knowledge and Experience

5-7+ years of experience in merchandising, buying, product management, category management, or related commercial functions.

Strong experience in assortment planning, pricing, demand forecasting, inventory management, and product lifecycle management.

Proven ability to lead cross-functional business discussions and influence stakeholders without direct reporting authority.

Experience working in a regional or matrix organization is preferred.

Good understanding of retail, e-commerce, and consumer journey dynamics within a multi-channel environment.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising, Economics, or related field.

Skills & Competencies

Strong analytical and commercial acumen.

Strong capability in business performance review, opportunity identification, and action planning.

Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyze category performance, demand trends, inventory productivity, and profitability.

Power BI or business intelligence experience is an advantage.

Strong presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Business-level English required.

Benefits:

HMO and 13th-month pay

Bonus: Depending on company performance and individual performance

Annual Leave: 15 days (+1 day at the start of the new calendar year up to a cap of 20 days)

Insurance: Medical + Personal Accident + Term Life coverage for employee

Product Allowance: 50% Discount, up to a cap of PHP 70,000 per year for purchase of its products (to be activated in July 2026)

Work schedule: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Interview process:

1st Interview (Online): Hiring Manager or HR

Final Interview (F2F): Japanese expat