Job Summary:
The Category Manager is responsible for the commercial performance and development of assigned automotive categories for the B2B channel. The role owns market research, supplier onboarding & management, assortment planning, pricing strategy, and category profitability, ensuring alignment with the needs of automotive service centers in Egypt.
1. Category Management & Market Intelligence
• Define the category vision, structure, and roadmap aligned with the operational and commercial needs of automotive service centers in Egypt.
• Conduct continuous market research to understand category dynamics and demand drivers.
• Analyze the Egyptian vehicle park, model penetration, and service consumption patterns to guide category decisions.
• Identify fast-moving parts by service type and assess service center buying behavior and price sensitivity.
• Monitor and benchmark competitors, including traditional wholesalers, distributors, and online automotive platforms.
• Build and optimize the category assortment based on demand, vehicle compatibility, and SKU productivity. • Set and manage category KPIs, including GM%, availability, fill rate, SKU productivity, and service level.
• Analyze product performance, trends, and customer behavior to continuously improve assortment structure and category layout.
• Identify category gaps and white space opportunities for new product introductions.
2. Supplier Management
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard local distributors, importers, and manufacturers.
• Negotiate commercial terms (buying price, payment terms, rebates, returns, exclusivity where applicable).
• Manage supplier performance: pricing competitiveness, stock availability, lead time, and compliance.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors and negotiate terms to maximize commercial value.
• Monitor supplier performance and ensure stock availability and timely fulfillment.
• Coordinate promotional campaigns and marketing initiatives with vendors.
• Initiate the purchase orders.
3. Assortment & Product Lifecycle Management
• Decide which SKUs to list, delist, or replace based on demand and profitability.
• Ensure correct vehicle compatibility mapping (car make, model, year, engine).
• Manage new product launches and seasonal demand (e.g. batteries, AC parts).
• Collaborate with content, and marketing teams to improve discoverability and user experience.
• Plan and execute seasonal campaigns, bundles, and category-specific promotions with collaborating with the product management team.
4. Pricing & Commercial Performance
• Own category pricing strategy (B2B tiered pricing, volume discounts, contract pricing) to remain competitive while achieving margin and profitability targets.
• Monitor competitor pricing (offline wholesalers, distributors, and online platforms).
• Manage category P&L, including margin improvement and cost optimization.
• Design commercial programs for service centers (bundles, monthly deals, loyalty incentives).
5. Demand Planning & Availability
• Forecast demand in collaboration with supply chain and operations.
• Ensure high availability of fast-moving SKUs critical to service centers’ daily operations.
• Minimize dead stock and overstock through data-driven decisions.
• Coordinate replenishment plans for locally stocked vs. vendor-fulfilled items.
7. Market & Customer Insights
• Conduct regular visits to service centers and workshops to understand real needs.
• Track market trends: vehicle parc evolution, new models, and parts demand.
• Translate customer pain points into assortment, pricing, and service improvements.