Cosmetics Category Manager

Job Purpose Lead the development and performance of the cosmetics category by executing category strategies, managing product assortment, pricing, promotions, supplier relationships, and commercial performance. The role focuses on identifying market opportunities, enhancing customer experience, and achieving revenue, profitability, and inventory objectives in alignment with the company’s overall business strategy.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Lead Category Strategy: Lead the execution of the cosmetics category strategy and business plan in alignment with company objectives and commercial priorities.
• Manage Product Assortment: Manage and develop the product assortment by evaluating performance, identifying growth opportunities, and optimizing the product mix to meet customer needs and market trends.
• Drive Category Performance: Monitor and analyze category performance across sales, profitability, pricing, and inventory, identifying improvement opportunities and taking appropriate actions to achieve business targets.
• Develop Pricing & Promotional Strategies: Develop pricing and promotional strategies that strengthen market competitiveness, support category growth, and improve profitability.
• Manage Supplier Relationships: Build and maintain effective relationships with beauty brands and suppliers, supporting commercial negotiations and opportunities that benefit the category and the company.
• Analyze Market Trends: Analyze beauty market trends, customer behavior, and competitor performance to identify commercial opportunities and support informed business decisions.
• Coordinate Cross-Functional Activities: Collaborate with relevant departments to ensure effective coordination of product launches, marketing campaigns, and product availability across sales channels.
• Reporting & Business Insights: Prepare and review category performance reports and commercial forecasts, providing recommendations to improve performance and achieve business objectives.
• Lead & Develop the Team: Lead and develop the category team, enhance team capabilities, and monitor performance to ensure effective execution of plans and achievement of category objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Merchandising, Retail Management, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience in category management, buying, merchandising, or retail, preferably within cosmetics, beauty, or personal care.
• Strong understanding of category strategy, assortment management, pricing, promotions, and retail performance metrics.
• Ability to analyze sales and market data and translate insights into actionable commercial recommendations.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and supporting commercial negotiations is preferred.
• Knowledge of cosmetics products, beauty brands, customer preferences, and industry trends is preferred.
• Strong commercial, financial analysis, forecasting, and inventory management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and presentation tools; experience with ERP, retail planning, or business intelligence systems is preferred.
• Strong communication, negotiation, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to collaborate across departments, manage competing priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Customer-focused, commercially minded, and results-oriented approach.
• Professional conduct and the ability to handle confidential commercial information appropriately.