Category Manager, Maxi Zoo Ireland, Ballincollig, Cork

Who We Are

Maxi Zoo is Ireland’s number one pet retailer with twenty nine stores to help with all your pets needs.

Description

Maxi Zoo is part of the Fressnapf Group, the European market leader in pet products. The Fressnapf Group with 1,900 shops across Europe. Maxi Zoo is Ireland’s largest pet retailer and has 29 shops in Ireland.

Description

A Category Manager is required for a full time position within Maxi Zoo Head Office, Ballincollig, Co. Cork.

This role is part of a busy purchasing team, and will commence in December 2023.

As a member of the purchasing team you will be responsible for ensuring that Maxi Zoo has the best product assortment available to customers for your assigned area and that we have consistency of product placement on shelf. Supporting our growth, your focus will be on the implementation and executing of business processes with a strong focus on data and analytics. We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated candidate with previous experience working in a retail buying/ category management team.

Core tasks and Responsibilities

Managing the product range portfolio and category plans to ensure that it reflects consumer and market trends

Work with local supply partners to deliver market beating/ exciting promotional trade plans

Setting retail prices and product margins to ensure that profitability objectives for both the company and competitive everyday prices for customers are being met

Regular visits to Maxi Zoo stores

Monitoring category trends and make recommendations based on your insights

Foster positive working relationships with management teams in our 29 stores

Collaborate with our corporate centre in Germany about new product lines, all correspondence is done in English

Present new product lines to management teams and stores to outline the benefits of each

Liaise with internal departments Finance/Marketing/Purchasing Department to determine upcoming promotional activities, product placement, store layout

Develop exit strategies for poor performing product lines

Qualification and Experience

Third level qualification

Minimum 2 years’ experience working within a buying/ category management role

Exceptional organisational, analytical & data management skills

Experience in using SAP and Spaceman desirable

Strong IT skills with experience in using Excel functions such as Vlookup and Pivot Tables

Team player in a fast paced environment with a high level of dedication and commitment

Strong commercial acumen combined with excellent written and oral communication

Attention to detail and multi-task skills is essential

Full clean driving licence

Why join us?

• An opportunity to grow with Europe’s largest pet retailer

• Hybrid working (3 days remote and 2 on-site, after initial onboarding)

• Flexible working opportunities

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Paid annual leave

• Employee Discount – up to 40% discount that can be used within each store

• Sick pay

• Free on-site parking

• Cycle to work & Refer a Friend Scheme

• A career that offers a work/life balance

Maxi Zoo is an equal opportunities employer