VP, EL Category Lead

Own Your Category

● Define our EL Retail Category Vision & Strategy within our Retail BU: Establish a clear vision and strategy for your category, aligning it with overall company goals and market trends.

● Supplier Management: Onboard, develop, and sustain key suppliers, building strong partnerships that drive business success.

● Agile Buying Strategies: Develop and implement buying strategies that are adaptable to our fast-changing environment, while aligning with the company's Retail overall goals and driving optimal category performance.

● Supplier Evaluation: Identify and evaluate potential suppliers, negotiate contracts, and establish partnerships that provide competitive advantages in terms of pricing, quality, and delivery.

● Advanced Negotiations: Lead high-stakes negotiations to secure favorable contract terms, ensuring the best possible value for the company and maximizing your category's profitability.

● Assortment Optimization: Develop and execute assortment plans across various categories, price points, and brands, tailoring your category to meet market demands and customer preferences.

● Compliance and Ethics: Stay updated on regulatory changes and ensure all sourcing activities comply with legal and ethical standards.

Drive Insights and Performance

● Forecasting and Analysis: Provide data-driven forecasts, insights, and recommendations for key Retail KPIs, projects, and initiatives to steer your category's growth.

● Market Intelligence: Monitor market trends, industry developments, and supplier performance to proactively adjust sourcing strategies and maintain a competitive edge.

● Inventory Management: Utilize advanced analytics to manage product demand, sales data, and inventory levels, ensuring optimal stock levels and avoiding overstock or stockouts.

● Competitive Analysis: Conduct in-depth competitive analyses and benchmarks to stay ahead of the market and enhance your category's performance.

● Operational Excellence: Implement efficient operating procedures and drive continuous improvement initiatives to achieve cost savings and efficiency improvements within your category.

● Process Innovation: Critique and refine current processes to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, driving innovation and improvement within your category.

Lead and Collaborate

● High Performance Team Building: Recruit, develop, and empower our future Retail top talents, fostering a culture of ownership, agility, and results-driven execution.

● Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with platform, marketing, and operations teams to align category strategies with overall business objectives and drive your category's success.

● Supplier Relationship Management: Conduct regular supplier performance reviews, addressing any issues promptly to maintain strong relationships and ensure the best outcomes for your category.

● Team Collaboration: Work closely with local and regional teammates and stakeholders to foster a collaborative environment and drive your category's performance.

● Thought Leadership: Act as a thought partner, engaging with teams to explore and capitalize on new opportunities, driving innovation and growth within your category.

Job Requirements

● Minimum 8 years of proven experience in Category Management, Product Management, Distribution or Commercial related position, with a strong background in EL Retail.

● Direct experience in Beauty and Groceries category is essential; prior work with leading brands is a significant advantage.

● At least 3 years of managerial experience leading a team of buyers as a Category Leader.

● A driven professional who thrives both as a collaborative team player and an inspiring leader, with the agility to switch into hands-on execution mode when needed.

● Strong analytical skills, paired with creativity and sound organizational capabilities.

● High attention to detail and a sharp eye for process optimization.

● Comfortable operating in a fast-paced and constantly evolving environment.

● Excellent collaboration skills with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset to drive cross-functional execution.

● Proficiency in English is required; Chinese language skills are a plus, but not mandatory.