Head, General Mechandise at Unified Payment Services Limited

Job Objectives

• Payarena Mall, the digital commerce arm of our fintech company, is seeking an experienced and commercially driven Head of General Merchandise to lead and scale the department.
• This role is responsible for the strategic direction, vendor portfolio growth, product assortment optimization, and revenue generation across a wide range of non-fashion categories such as electronics, home & kitchen, personal care, baby products, office supplies, and more.
• The ideal candidate will have deep experience in e-commerce or retail, exceptional leadership capabilities, and a strong commercial mindset to drive growth, profitability, and market competitiveness.

Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Category Management:

• Define and execute the strategic roadmap for the General Merchandise Department, aligned with Payarena Mall’s overall vision and growth targets.
• Lead category planning, assortment strategy, and pricing initiatives to improve customer experience and drive conversions.
• Identify trends and demand patterns to expand and optimize the product offering across key verticals.

Vendor & Partner Management:

• Acquire, manage, and grow relationships with high-impact vendors, distributors, and brand partners.
• Negotiate commercial terms, supplier incentives, exclusivity deals, and strategic campaigns.
• Monitor vendor compliance with SLAs on pricing, quality, stock availability, and fulfillment.

Revenue & Performance Management:

• Drive revenue growth through assortment expansion, product bundling, pricing strategy, and promotions.
• Track sales performance, conversion metrics, and customer feedback; use insights to adjust strategy and enhance performance.
• Ensure effective execution of merchandising, catalog management, and content optimization.

Team Leadership & Collaboration:

• Lead and mentor a team of category managers, business development executives, and account officers.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, technology, logistics, customer service, and finance to ensure operational excellence.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Key Performance Indicators

• As agreed from time to time based on business exigencies.

Job Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Marketing, or related field (MBA is a plus).

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in e-commerce, retail, or FMCG—minimum 3 years in a senior leadership role. Post NYSC experience.

Key Requirements
Knowledge / Experience:

• Proven track record in managing multiple product categories and delivering commercial success.
• Deep understanding of vendor ecosystem, inventory planning, pricing strategies, and customer behavior.
• Strong leadership, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Proficiency in Excel, ERP systems, and e-commerce dashboards (e.g., Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce).

Preferred Attributes:

• Previous experience in managing general merchandise categories on an e-commerce platform.
• Strong market knowledge of consumer goods in Nigeria.
• Results-oriented with a passion for retail and customer satisfaction.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, data-driven, and evolving environment.

Skill / Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written/oral communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Confident negotiator and ability to close the right type of business deals at the highest level.