Hiring – Category Manager
Location: Lagos
Our client is a fast-growing Retail Chain for basic groceries with strong financial resources, which is going to change the retail market in Nigeria.
The company is seeking to hire a Category Manager who will be responsible for the strategic development and performance of assigned product categories and ensuring all SKUs maintain high volume and superior quality. The primary goal for this role is to establish market expertise, maximize the development of Private Labels, and secure the most favorable costs and terms for the organization.
The ideal candidate for this role must be a strategic procurement professional who can balance aggressive commercial negotiation with technical product expertise.
Key Responsibilities:
Negotiate all purchasing conditions, including prices, payment terms, and minimum order quantities (MOQs).
Suggest items to be added to or dropped from categories based on performance and market trends.
Decide on additional manufacturers for the production of Private Labels.
Perform regular quality and laboratory tests, including internal tastings, particularly before selecting new items for the assortment.
Follow up on existing supplier contracts and decide on the terms of new contracts prior to the expiration of current ones.
Inform regions regarding important legal modifications, updated purchasing conditions, and packaging changes.
Designate specific suppliers in charge of deliveries to various regions.
Authorized to buy products in exceptional cases to resolve company shortages.
Decide on regional product volumes in the event of supply shortages.
Clarify severe quality issues and suggest necessary corrective actions.
Authorized to sign purchasing contracts alongside the Central Purchasing Officer.
Act at all times in accordance with the General Principles of Purchasing Policies.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
Minimum of 5-7 years of proven experience as a Category Manager or in a senior procurement role.
Proven experience in high-level negotiations, specifically regarding pricing, credit terms, and minimum order quantities (MOQs).
Experience managing the full lifecycle of supplier contracts, including renewals and ensuring legal compliance.
Strong understanding and commitment to applying the "principle of economy" to maximize profitability and maintain a competitive edge.
Ability to interpret laboratory data and quality assessments to inform procurement, assortment decisions, and SKU excellence.
Familiarity with regional logistics and the ability to strategically manage stock distribution and supplier allocations during shortages.
Ability to work effectively with all internal departments to achieve optimal results for the organization.
Demonstrated ability to conduct market research to remain an expert on both local and international market trends.
Previous experience or strong aptitude for Private Label development and manufacturer sourcing.
Decisiveness and the ability to act with authority during exceptional cases, such as critical product shortages or severe quality failures.
Awareness of industry-specific legal requirements and packaging modifications relevant to product categories.
Proficiency in ERP systems or procurement software (such as QuickBooks, Zoho Books, or advanced Microsoft Excel) to track purchasing conditions and contract duration.
