Category Leader

ROLE OVERVIEW

Own the Fashion category end-to-end — Women's, Men's and Kids' apparel and related accessories — across assortment, vendor base, margins and team, tailored to Rozana's rural and semi-urban customer. As the first Category Leader for the revamped department, you will shape how buying, vendor relations and sourcing work together in a lean, high-ownership team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define the Fashion assortment strategy — fabric, fit, price architecture and seasonal calendar — suited to rural household needs.
• Hire, lead and develop the Buyer team (Women's, Men's, Kids) and the Vendor Relationship/Sourcing pod.
• Own the Fashion category P&L: sales, margin, sell-through and inventory health.
• Build and govern the vendor and manufacturing-partner base — a mix of ready-stock suppliers and manufacturing units — for cost, quality and delivery reliability.
• Set quality benchmarks and ensure QA/QC discipline is embedded directly into the buying process.
• Partner with the Planning Head on OTB and with store operations on category performance and in-store merchandising.

REQUIREMENTS & EXPERIENCE

• 8–12 years in fashion buying/category management, including at least 2–3 years leading a buying team.

Strong existing vendor network across ready-made garment (RMG) manufacturers, wholesalers and hyper/supermarket-style value fashion suppliers. Hands-on understanding of apparel costing, margins and QA/QC.

• Experience serving value-conscious, mass-market or rural consumers preferred.

PREFERRED BACKGROUND Buying/category leadership roles at hypermarket or supermarket chains with a fashion vertical (e.g., DMart, Vishal Mega Mart, V-Mart, V2 Retail, Reliance Trends/Smart Bazaar, Big Bazaar/Central).