Senior Manager, Category Management - Skincare

About Sephora SEA

Sephora SEA operates across 8 countries including Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. It has over 100 stores and prominent flagship locations such as ION and Raffles City in Singapore, F88 in Kuala Lumpur, and Pitt Street in Sydney. The region is witnessing swift growth with new store openings and expanding business channels like Click and Collect and marketplace.

Role Overview

The Senior Manager for Category Management in Skincare will oversee a portfolio of priority brands, aiming to drive differentiation and business growth by optimizing sales, space productivity, profitability, and leading impactful 360 campaigns. This role involves forging strategic partnerships with key brands, handling commercial negotiations, joint business plans, and coordinating closely with supply chain teams for efficient planning and forecasting.

Key Responsibilities

• Co-develop regional category strategy grounded in market trends, consumer insights, and sales analysis to uncover opportunities for growth, optimize space and profitability, and execute comprehensive category campaigns.
• Collaborate with Market Merchandising teams to align and implement category strategies for selective brands effectively.
• Manage brand portfolio performance across omni-channel platforms, monitoring key performance indicators including sales, market segments, margins, productivity, brand conversion, and inventory.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with key brand vendors, conducting commercial negotiations to secure beneficial terms.
• Lead joint business planning with brand partners to optimize product assortment, set pricing principles, and create engaging marketing initiatives.
• Plan and execute a calendar for existing brands and coordinate impactful launches of new brands.
• Steer assortment planning to balance product variety with consumer demand, maximizing profitability.
• Work closely with internal teams and brands to coordinate and implement launch plans effectively.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain to manage product lifecycles, overseeing timely product introductions and discontinuing underperforming items to maintain healthy inventory levels.

Candidate Profile

• 8 to 10 years of progressive experience in category management, retail buying, or related areas.
• Proven success in formulating and executing category strategies that enhance growth, profitability, and market share.
• Experience in managing brand portfolios, supplier relations, commercial dealings, and collaborative planning.
• Skilled in assortment optimization, pricing strategies, and lifecycle management of products.
• Experienced in working with supply chain teams for efficient demand planning and forecasting.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities to guide, mentor, and develop teams fostering collaboration and strong performance.
• Capability to analyze market trends, consumer data, and sales figures to build impactful strategies.
• Expertise in negotiating complex commercial contracts and managing financials including budgeting and P&L.
• Adaptable to innovate and lead change with a strong customer-focused mindset.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills within diverse multicultural settings.

Culture and Values

• Inclusive community that values authenticity and celebrates diversity.
• Empowering culture encouraging continuous learning, innovation, and leadership opportunities.
• Work environment focused on making meaningful impact for clients and the industry.

Diversity and Inclusion

Sephora is committed to equal employment opportunity, embracing diversity, and fostering an inclusive workplace without discrimination across recruitment, hiring, or career development processes.