Head of Category in a Leading Nigerian Fashion Company

Job Title: Head of Category

Location: Ikeja, Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Description

• The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with a proven track record of driving sales, maximizing profitability, managing category performance, and leading high-performing commercial teams within the fashion retail industry.
• Our client is seeking an experienced and commercially driven Head of Category to lead category strategy, optimize product performance, and drive sustainable business growth across its portfolio.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Commercial Leadership:

• Drive sales growth, market expansion, and overall category profitability.
• Develop and execute annual category and commercial strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Buying, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Operations to achieve commercial objectives.

Sales, Budgeting & Performance Management:

• Monitor category performance using key commercial KPIs and implement improvement strategies.
• Analyze sales trends and customer buying behaviour to support business decisions.
• Prepare sales forecasts, Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets, pricing strategies, and financial projections.
• Develop and manage the commercial calendar, promotional campaigns, and seasonal trading plans.

Inventory & Supplier Management:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and negotiate commercially favourable terms.
• Ensure effective stock planning to maximize sell-through while minimizing markdowns.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations teams to optimize inventory levels and product availability.

Market Analysis & Team Leadership:

• Monitor consumer trends and emerging developments within the fashion retail industry.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop the Category team to deliver outstanding business results.
• Conduct market research and competitor analysis to identify growth opportunities.

Requirements

• Strong commercial acumen with proven experience driving revenue growth and category profitability.
• Minimum of 7 years' experience in Commercial Management, Category Management, Buying, or Merchandising within Fashion Retail, FMCG, or E-commerce.
• Sound knowledge of pricing strategy, assortment planning, inventory optimization, and category performance management.
• Candidates must have served as a Head of Category for a minimum of four (4) years, this is a mandatory requirement, and applications from candidates without direct Head of Category experience for at least four years will not be considered.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation, analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; knowledge of SQL or other analytical tools is an added advantage.
• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, or a related field.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: [email protected] using "Head of Category" as the subject of your email.

Note: Only candidates who have held the position of Head of Category for at least four (4) years will be shortlisted.