Category Manager – Adventure HQ

Category Manager – Adventure HQ Industry: Outdoor, Sports & Adventure Retail Location: Dubai, UAE Reporting To: Head of Buying, Merchandising & Planning Department: Commercial / Merchandising Role Purpose Adventure HQ is seeking a commercially driven and analytically strong Category Manager to lead the end-to-end management of assigned categories across Outdoor, Camping, Hiking, Cycling, Water Sports, Swim, Fitness and Adventure Lifestyle. The role is responsible for delivering profitable category growth through strategic sourcing, assortment planning, supplier management, pricing, promotional execution and inventory optimization. The successful candidate will combine strong commercial acumen with a passion for outdoor and active lifestyles, using data, market insights and customer understanding to build compelling product propositions. This role requires an individual who can think strategically, trade dynamically, negotiate effectively and leverage modern planning and AI-enabled tools to drive business performance. Key Responsibilities Category Strategy & Commercial Management Develop and execute category growth strategies aligned with Adventure HQ's business objectives. Build customer-centric product assortments that drive sales, margin and market differentiation. Identify emerging trends, market opportunities and category gaps. Continuously review category performance and implement actions to improve productivity. Establish category roadmaps supporting short and long-term growth plans. Buying, Sourcing & Brand Development Source and develop relationships with new international and regional brands. Identify exclusive distribution and partnership opportunities. Negotiate commercial terms including cost prices, margin structures, marketing support, rebates, exclusivity agreements and payment terms. Manage vendor performance through structured business reviews. Attend international trade shows and industry events to identify innovation and sourcing opportunities. Planning & Inventory Management Partner closely with Planning teams to develop sales forecasts, seasonal plans, OTB plans, stock targets and replenishment strategies. Monitor inventory productivity and stock health. Optimize stock turn and reduce aged inventory. Manage intake, availability and exit strategies. Drive sell-through and inventory efficiency across stores and online channels. Pricing, Promotion & Trading Develop pricing strategies aligned with market positioning and margin objectives. Conduct competitor benchmarking and pricing analysis. Lead promotional planning and execution. Monitor category performance weekly and recommend trading actions. Drive in-season management through proactive commercial decision-making. Improve gross margin return through pricing optimization and supplier negotiations. Analytics & AI-Driven Decision Making Utilize data analytics and AI-enabled tools to improve forecasting and commercial decisions. Monitor category KPIs and performance dashboards. Leverage customer insights, sales trends and market intelligence to identify opportunities. Support implementation of advanced planning and inventory management systems. Drive a data-led culture within category management. Omnichannel & Marketplace Development Build category strategies across physical stores, e-commerce and marketplaces. Optimize online assortment and digital product presentation. Support marketplace expansion initiatives. Ensure inventory and assortment alignment across all channels. Cross Functional Collaboration Partner closely with Planning, Retail Operations, Marketing, E-commerce and Supply Chain teams. Support store teams with product training and category knowledge. Collaborate on customer events, workshops and experiential initiatives. Categories of Responsibility Candidates with experience in one or more of the following categories will be highly preferred. Outdoor & Camping Tents Sleeping Bags Camp Furniture Outdoor Cooking Lighting Accessories Hiking & Trail Technical Apparel Backpacks Trekking Equipment Hiking Footwear Cycling Bikes Components Accessories Apparel Workshop & Services Water Sports Paddle Sports Kayaking Watersports Equipment Snorkeling Diving Swim & Beach Swimwear Beach Accessories Watersports Lifestyle Fitness & Recovery Home Fitness Recovery Equipment Wearables Wellness Products Key Performance Indicators Financial Sales Growth Gross Margin % Category Profitability GMROI Inventory Productivity Inventory Stock Turn Sell-through % Weeks Cover Aged Stock % Availability % Commercial New Brand Introductions Supplier Income Pricing Competitiveness Promotional ROI Customer Category Conversion Basket Size Customer Satisfaction Online Category Growth Candidate Profile Experience 5–10 years experience in Category Management, Buying, Merchandising or Commercial roles. Experience within outdoor, sports, lifestyle, specialty retail or sporting goods preferred. Proven experience managing large product portfolios and supplier relationships. Experience working within omnichannel retail environments. Exposure to GCC retail markets preferred. Technical Skills Category Management Buying & Merchandising Merchandise Planning OTB Management Forecasting Inventory Management Pricing Strategy Promotion Planning Vendor Negotiation Financial Analysis Retail Analytics AI-Enabled Planning Tools Power BI, Tableau or similar Advanced Excel Leadership Competencies Strong Commercial Acumen Analytical Thinking Negotiation & Influencing Strategic Mindset Customer Focus Decision Making Relationship Building Results Orientation Adaptability & Agility Ideal Candidate Attributes The ideal candidate is passionate about outdoor lifestyles and adventure activities. Comfortable using data and analytics to make decisions. Curious about new products, technologies and market trends. Equally strong in supplier negotiations and commercial analysis. Entrepreneurial, proactive and highly accountable. Excited by building categories, introducing brands and creating differentiated customer propositions.