Category Manager - Sports

The Sports Category Manager owns the end-to-end commercial strategy and performance of the Sports category (e.g., footwear, apparel, accessories).
 The role is accountable for delivering targets across GMV/Net Revenue, margin, markdowns, stock health, and customer experience.

This position directly leads the seasonal buying process (selection and buy quantities) and is supported by a Category Admin for operational execution (PO processing, master data, tracking).

Responsibilities : 

1) Category Strategy & Commercial Ownership

• Own category performance and trading outcomes across sales/GMV, margin, markdowns, and stock productivity.
• Build the category strategy: brand architecture, price ladder, sport segments (running/training/outdoor/athleisure), and target customer missions.
• Lead monthly and seasonal forecasts; set clear growth drivers and priorities.

2) Buying, Range Build & Seasonal Planning (Core Accountability)

• Lead the seasonal range build and buying decisions:
• Assortment strategy (core vs trend, breadth/depth, key franchises)
• Style/SKU selection aligned to market/customer needs
• Buy quantities and delivery phasing (in partnership with Planning/Finance where applicable)
• Define replenishment strategy for core lines and fast sellers; adjust buys in-season based on performance.
• Conduct competitor/trend benchmarking to ensure relevant range and strong price positioning.

3) Vendor/Brand Management & Negotiation

• Own relationships with key sports brands/distributors/vendors.
• Negotiate commercial terms: margin/cost, funding, rebates, marketing support, exclusives/launches, campaign participation (as applicable).
• Build Joint Business Plans (JBPs) and run regular performance reviews/QBRs.

4) Trading, Pricing, Promotions & Markdown Management

• Set category pricing architecture and ensure price competitiveness.
• Own campaign readiness and execution: hero SKUs, promo mechanics, and visibility requirements.
• Manage markdown strategy to hit sell-through targets while protecting profitability.

5) Stock & Availability Management 

• Drive inventory health: stock cover, sell-through, ageing, stock turn, and end-of-season exit.
• Partner with Supply Chain/Operations to manage inbound flow and reduce OOS on key lines.

6) Onsite Execution & Customer Experience

• Ensure trade-ready product pages: images, attributes, size/fit info, taxonomy, SEO basics.
• Work with onsite/merchandising teams to improve discoverability and conversion (filters, landing pages, search relevance).

7) Team Leadership (Category Admin)

• Set clear weekly priorities and ways of working for the Category Admin.
• Coach on execution quality: PO accuracy, timeline discipline, data hygiene, and cross-team coordination.

Requirements

• 5–10+ years in category management/buying/merchandising/trading (sports or fashion retail/e-commerce preferred).
• Proven capability owning buying decisions (assortment + quantities) and managing seasonal cycles.
• Strong negotiation and partner management skills.
• Strong analytical capability (advanced Excel/Google Sheets).
• Strong stakeholder management across Planning, Marketing, Ops, and Content.

The ZALORA Story

ZALORA is Asia’s Online Fashion Destination. Founded in 2012, the company has a presence in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong. ZALORA is part of Global Fashion Group, the world's leader in online fashion for emerging markets. ZALORA offers an extensive collection of top international and local brands and products across apparel, shoes, accessories, and beauty categories for men and women. Offering up to 30-day free returns, speedy deliveries as fast as 3 hours, free delivery over a certain spend, and multiple payment methods including cash-on-delivery, ZALORA is the online shopping destination with endless fashion possibilities.

ZALORA is not obligated to accept resumes from any third parties on behalf of potential candidates for any position (advertised or otherwise) by any means, unless ZALORA has executed a written agreement with such third party and has expressly requested such third party for candidate referrals. Third parties who provide unsolicited resumes of candidate(s) shall waive and forfeit all rights to claim for any placement fees or referral fees in the event that such candidate is eventually engaged or employed by ZALORA or Global Fashion Group.