Category Manager at Dunn & Braxton

• The ideal candidate for this role must be a strategic procurement professional who can balance aggressive commercial negotiation with technical product expertise.

Key Responsibilities:

• Negotiate all purchasing conditions, including prices, payment terms, and minimum order quantities (MOQs).
• Suggest items to be added to or dropped from categories based on performance and market trends.
• Decide on additional manufacturers for the production of Private Labels.
• Perform regular quality and laboratory tests, including internal tastings, particularly before selecting new items for the assortment.
• Follow up on existing supplier contracts and decide on the terms of new contracts prior to the expiration of current ones.
• Inform regions regarding important legal modifications, updated purchasing conditions, and packaging changes.
• Designate specific suppliers in charge of deliveries to various regions.
• Authorized to buy products in exceptional cases to resolve company shortages.
• Decide on regional product volumes in the event of supply shortages.
• Clarify severe quality issues and suggest necessary corrective actions.
• Authorized to sign purchasing contracts alongside the Central Purchasing Officer.
• Act at all times in accordance with the General Principles of Purchasing Policies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of proven experience as a Category Manager or in a senior procurement role.
• Proven experience in high-level negotiations, specifically regarding pricing, credit terms, and minimum order quantities (MOQs).
• Experience managing the full lifecycle of supplier contracts, including renewals and ensuring legal compliance.
• Strong understanding and commitment to applying the "principle of economy" to maximize profitability and maintain a competitive edge.
• Ability to interpret laboratory data and quality assessments to inform procurement, assortment decisions, and SKU excellence.
• Familiarity with regional logistics and the ability to strategically manage stock distribution and supplier allocations during shortages.
• Ability to work effectively with all internal departments to achieve optimal results for the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct market research to remain an expert on both local and international market trends.
• Previous experience or strong aptitude for Private Label development and manufacturer sourcing.
• Decisiveness and the ability to act with authority during exceptional cases, such as critical product shortages or severe quality failures.
• Awareness of industry-specific legal requirements and packaging modifications relevant to product categories.
• Proficiency in ERP systems or procurement software (such as QuickBooks, Zoho Books, or advanced Microsoft Excel) to track purchasing conditions and contract duration.