Head of Category Management- General Merchandise

Your key responsibilities will be: 

• Define and execute the short- and long-term category strategy in line with business objectives and customer needs.
• Take ownership of category performance, including sales, margin, stock management, profitability, and commercial results.
• Analyse sales performance, market trends, and customer insights to drive assortment, pricing, and trading decisions.
• Lead the end-to-end product offer development process in close collaboration with Buying, Design, and Garment Technology teams.
• Build and develop strategic supplier partnerships, negotiate commercial terms, and identify cost optimisation opportunities.
• Ensure a competitive, customer-focused, and value-driven product offering that reflects brand priorities.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Category Management team, fostering a high-performance and accountable culture.
• Represent the category in key business forums and contribute to strategic decision-making across the organisation.

Skills and experience we are looking for:

• Minimum 9 years of experience in Category Management or Buying, including senior leadership responsibility for complex, high-volume General Merchandise (GM) categories.
• Proven experience in an international retail environment with responsibility for multiple countries, combined with the ability to influence business decisions and drive category performance across markets.
• Strong track record in defining category vision and developing buying strategies, creating customer-focused assortments and collections, and translating market trends and consumer insights into commercially successful product ranges that drive sales growth and strengthen brand positioning.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data and insights into effective business decisions.
• Experience in leading, developing, and motivating teams in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, stakeholder management, and organisational skills.
• Strong commercial mindset, customer focus, and results-driven approach.
• Fluent English, enabling effective communication and preparation of business documentation.
• Readiness to work in a hybrid model, with a minimum of 50% office attendance.
• Willingness to travel frequently on business, including internationally, and a valid driving licence (Category B).

You are bound to like your job at Pepco because we guarantee:

• Work in an international company featured on the Forbes list of the best employers in Poland and beloved by millions of consumers in Poland and Europe.
• A competitive salary and real opportunities for promotion - the development of our employees is the cornerstone of our strategy!
• Life insurance 
• Company Car 
• Medical care
• An extensive benefits platform offering a wide range of options - including sports cards, events, trips, shopping vouchers, and more.
• Discounts on purchases at Pepco stores -  get your favorite products at even better prices!
• Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning (for IT - Udemy Business), giving you thousands of expert-led courses to support your professional development, build new skills, and learn at your own pace.
• The opportunity to improve language skills by working in an international environment.
• Free psychological, legal, and financial consultations as part of our employee support program -our employees' well-being is our top priority!
• Smart Lunch - meal subsidies for the company canteen, giving access to daily on-site dishes at discounted prices.
• Financial recognition in the form of jubilee awards, additional days off, and loyalty-based discounts for employees celebrating their work anniversaries.
• A social fund providing additional financial support to ensure security and assistance in various life situations.
• A friendly atmosphere and support from colleagues who are eager to share their expert knowledge - despite being a large organization, we’ve maintained a warm, informal atmosphere.
• A role within a unique organizational culture - Pepcoolture - where our mission, vision, and values are the foundation of our everyday work.