Category Lead

Category Lead Bangalore Category | Full-time 4-8 Years About the Role We are looking for a Category Lead to own and scale a category end-to-end at SuperK.This is a high-ownership role that goes beyond traditional procurement. You will be responsible for the entire category lifecycle—from sourcing and vendor management to assortment, pricing, merchandising, sales, margins, and profitability.You will operate as a mini-GM for your category, combining a strong understanding of the buy side and sell side to build a compelling customer proposition while delivering strong commercial outcomes.The ideal candidate could come from any relevant consumer, retail, FMCG, e-commerce, or category-led business, provided they have demonstrated strong commercial ownership and an understanding of how products are sourced, priced, positioned, and sold. Roles & Responsibilities 1. Category P&L OwnershipOwn the category's revenue, gross margin, profitability, and overall business performance.Develop and execute category strategies to drive growth and improve profitability.Optimize the balance between price competitiveness, margin, assortment, and inventory.Identify opportunities to improve category economics through sourcing, pricing, mix, and operational interventions. 2. Sourcing & Vendor ManagementIdentify, evaluate, onboard, and manage suppliers and manufacturing partners.Build strong vendor relationships and negotiate competitive commercials, payment terms, and supply agreements.Continuously benchmark costs and identify opportunities to improve purchase economics.Develop a reliable and scalable supplier base aligned with SuperK's quality, cost, and service requirements.Work closely with vendors to improve availability, quality, lead times, and overall supply performance. 3. Product & Assortment DevelopmentBuild a relevant, differentiated, and high-velocity assortment based on customer needs and category dynamics.Evaluate products and brands based on consumer demand, economics, differentiation, and scalability.Identify gaps in the existing assortment and develop new products/SKUs to address them.Work with suppliers and internal teams to develop products that deliver the right combination of quality, value, and profitability.Continuously rationalize slow-moving or underperforming SKUs. 4. Pricing & Value StrategyDevelop pricing strategies that deliver compelling value to SuperK customers while protecting category margins.Monitor competitor pricing, market trends, supplier costs, and consumer behavior to make informed pricing decisions.Identify opportunities for margin expansion without compromising price perception.Develop appropriate pricing, promotion, and pack/mix strategies for different customer segments and formats. 5. Merchandising & Sales GrowthOwn the sell-side strategy for the category across SuperK's store and digital channels.Drive category visibility, product placement, promotions, and merchandising interventions.Partner with marketing and operations teams to drive customer adoption and category growth.Identify opportunities to increase basket size, frequency, and penetration through cross-selling, bundling, and promotional strategies.Translate consumer and market insights into actionable category initiatives. 6. Demand, Inventory & Supply PlanningWork closely with supply chain and operations teams to ensure high product availability while maintaining healthy inventory levels.Develop demand forecasts and monitor sales trends to identify changes in consumer demand.Improve inventory turns, sell-through, and working capital efficiency.Identify and resolve supply, availability, and excess inventory issues.Scale successful products and category strategies across regions and store formats. 7. Category Growth & Consumer UnderstandingDevelop a deep understanding of SuperK's target consumers, their needs, purchase behavior, and value expectations.Track category trends, competition, consumer feedback, and emerging opportunities.Identify new growth opportunities across products, brands, suppliers, channels, and geographies.Work cross-functionally with marketing, operations, supply chain, finance, and technology teams to execute category growth initiatives. 8. Analytics & Performance ManagementBuild and track category performance through key metrics such as:Revenue and growthGross margin %Contribution marginSell-throughInventory turnsStock availabilitySKU productivityRepeat purchaseAverage basket/valueUse data to identify performance gaps and make commercial decisions.Develop action plans for underperforming products, vendors, and segments.Continuously test, learn, and optimize the category strategy. What we are looking for? 4–8 years of experience in category management, buying, merchandising, procurement, sourcing, or a similar commercial role.Experience in retail, FMCG, e-commerce, consumer businesses, or other category-led businesses.Strong understanding of both the buy side and sell side of a category.Demonstrated experience in vendor/supplier management, commercial negotiations, assortment, pricing, and category growth.Strong commercial acumen with an understanding of revenue, margins, costs, and profitability.Experience using data and business metrics to make category and commercial decisions.Ability to balance consumer value, product quality, sourcing economics, and profitability.Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to work with supply chain, operations, marketing, finance, and product/technology teams.Structured thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.High ownership, bias for action, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.