Lead, Category Management

foodpanda is part of the Delivery Hero Group, the world's pioneering local delivery platform, our mission is to deliver an amazing experience—fast, easy, and to your door. We operate in over 70+ countries worldwide. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany. Delivery Hero has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2017 and is part of the MDAX stock market index.

The Category Management Lead will be responsible for strategic planning, assortment development, pricing, promotions, supplier management, and overall P&L ownership for multiple categories within Pandamart's online grocery business.

This role requires an FMCG industry expert with experience in retail chain super shop. The candidate must possess strong negotiation skills, data-driven decision-making capabilities, and business acumen to drive category growth and deliver exceptional customer value.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Category Management

• Lead the end-to-end strategy for assigned FMCG categories to drive revenue, profitability, and market share.
• Analyze market trends, customer insights, and competitor performance to create a category growth roadmap.
• Develop and execute annual operating plans, including budgeting, forecasting, and margin targets.
• Introduce innovation by adding new products, brands, and categories aligned with evolving consumer demands.

2. Supplier & Vendor Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with FMCG suppliers, distributors, and brand principals.
• Lead commercial negotiations to secure optimal trading terms, pricing, NMR investments and promotional funding.
• Drive supplier compliance on fill rates, on-time delivery, product quality, and service-level agreements (SLAs).
• Collaborate closely with suppliers to develop joint business plans (JBPs), ensuring alignment on business objectives.

3. Assortment, Pricing & Promotions

• Curate and optimize the assortment mix by balancing premium, mainstream, and value-driven SKUs.
• Develop pricing strategies to remain competitive while achieving targeted contribution margins.
• Plan and execute high-impact campaigns and promotional events with the marketing and operations teams.
• Ensure in-app product visibility through strategic positioning, exclusive launches, and banner promotions.

4. P&L Ownership & Performance Management

• Take full ownership of assigned category P&L, including revenue, margins, NRV, and EBITDA targets.
• Track and analyze KPIs such as:
  • Sales growth vs. forecast
  • Gross profit margin & contribution %
  • Shrinkage levels
  • Supplier fill rates
  • Promo ROI & campaign effectiveness
• Proactively identify gaps and implement corrective actions to improve profitability and operational efficiency.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Demand Planning to ensure optimal stock levels and prevent stockouts/overstocks.
• Partner with Marketing to design and execute customer engagement campaigns, bundle offers, and seasonal launches.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain & Operations for seamless inventory flow, warehouse accuracy, and fulfillment efficiency.
• Collaborate with Finance to track margins, rebates, and supplier investment settlements.

Key KPIs

• Revenue Growth (YoY & MoM)
• Contribution Margin & GP%
• Fill Rate & OOS (Out-of-Stock) Control
• Supplier Investments (NMR, rebates)
• Shrinkage & Wastage Reduction
• Customer Engagement & Campaign ROI

• Bachelor's / Master's Degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or related field. (MBA preferred)
• 5-7 years of experience in Category Management / FMCG Sales / Retail Buying, with at least 2 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven expertise in FMCG, grocery retail, or e-commerce environments.
• Prior experience in retail super shops is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of P&L ownership, supplier negotiations, and driving category growth.

Core Competencies

• Strong Negotiation & Influencing Skills – Expertise in managing key FMCG suppliers and brand partners.
• Data-Driven Decision Making – Ability to analyze numbers and translate insights into actionable strategies.
• Leadership & Stakeholder Management – Experience in leading cross-functional teams and aligning multiple stakeholders.
• Agility & Innovation – Capable of thriving in a fast-paced online grocery environment.
• Customer-First Mindset – Deep understanding of consumer buying behavior and market dynamics.