Category Manager

Category Manager - Private Label

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Retail
Function: Merchandise Planning and Buying
Experience: Minimum 10 years, including 5 years in leadership
Job Type: Full-time

Job Details

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• City: Dubai
• Industry: Retail
• Function: Merchandise Planning and Buying
• Salary: 30,000-45,000 (estimated range, confirm final offer with employer)
• Gender: Any
• Nationality: Any

Role Context

The Category Manager - Private Label will lead the strategic and commercial development of assigned private label categories. The role is responsible for building competitive product assortments that combine customer value, reliable quality, market relevance and sustainable margins. Working across procurement, commercial, finance, operations, marketing and supply chain teams, the category leader will use market intelligence and performance data to make informed decisions on sourcing, assortment, pricing, promotions and product lifecycle management. The position also carries responsibility for supplier performance and the development of team members against defined objectives and KPIs.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute private label category strategies that support sales, margin and business growth targets.
• Own the category plan across assortment, sourcing, pricing, promotion, innovation and product lifecycle management.
• Identify, evaluate and onboard suppliers capable of meeting commercial, quality and product development requirements.
• Build collaborative supplier relationships that encourage reliable delivery, competitive pricing and continuous innovation.
• Lead procurement activities and sourcing projects for assigned product categories.
• Negotiate supplier agreements covering pricing, service levels, quality standards, payment terms and performance expectations.
• Ensure supplier contracts remain commercially favourable and compliant with internal governance requirements.
• Establish supplier objectives and measurable KPIs for cost, quality, availability, innovation and delivery.
• Review supplier performance regularly and implement corrective action where targets are not achieved.
• Manage private label product development from concept, sourcing and costing through approval, launch and shelf placement.
• Work with internal teams to ensure products meet brand, packaging, quality and regulatory expectations.
• Monitor sales, gross margin, stock movement, availability and category profitability.
• Prepare accurate forecasts, commercial plans and recommendations based on performance drivers.
• Analyse customer behaviour, competitor activity, market trends and emerging product opportunities.
• Use data to improve product assortment, pricing architecture and promotional planning.
• Identify underperforming products and recommend range changes, repositioning or discontinuation.
• Prepare clear presentations and business cases for senior stakeholders, suppliers and external partners.
• Maintain effective coordination across commercial, finance, supply chain, marketing and operational teams.
• Manage competing projects and deadlines while ensuring agreed milestones are achieved.
• Provide leadership, coaching and direction to category team members.
• Set individual objectives and performance targets aligned with wider organizational goals.
• Monitor team progress, resolve operational challenges and support professional development.
• Build a performance‑focused culture based on accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Complete additional commercial and category responsibilities assigned by management.

Ideal Profile

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in private label development and category management.
• At least 5 years of experience in a leadership or people management position.
• Proven retail buying experience within the FMCG sector is essential.
• Strong understanding of assortment planning, pricing, promotions and product lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated experience sourcing and developing private label products from concept to market.
• Advanced supplier selection, contract negotiation and cost management capabilities.
• Strong commercial knowledge covering profit and loss statements, budgets, margins and financial performance.
• Ability to interpret market trends, competitor activity and consumer behaviour.
• Experience using commercial data to make assortment, pricing and promotional decisions.
• Strong forecasting, reporting and business planning skills.
• Ability to manage multiple category projects and stakeholder priorities.
• Proven supplier relationship managemen