Category Manager

About Us

Established in 1972, Guardian Health & Beauty is Singapore's Number 1 Health and Beauty retailer. With more than 110 stores nation-wide, it retails a comprehensive range of health & beauty products. Guardian has evolved from its pharmacy roots to a holistic one-stop solution for customers health and beauty needs. It continues to expand its products and service range to meet the redefinition of beauty by today's customers - where health meets beauty.

With a strong health heritage, it has the largest network of award-winning pharmacists and a wide selection of health products. Professional services such as patient-care counselling, dispensary services, beauty and personal care solutions are offered at stores as a convenient one-stop for health and beauty. Guardian also operates its online store with more than 9,000 products available and offers the Click & Collect services.

Guardian Health & Beauty is a Progressive Wage (PW) mark accredited company.

Role Purpose

As a Category Manager, you will own and drive the performance of assigned categories within Guardian Singapore-shaping strategy, building brands, and delivering strong commercial outcomes across stores and e-commerce.

You will be responsible for end-to-end category management-from strategy, supplier negotiations, and pricing to in-store execution and campaign performance. This role requires a strong balance of commercial thinking, data-driven decision-making, and hands-on execution.

Principal Accountabilities

- Own Category Strategy & Performance

• Lead category strategy to deliver sales, profit, and income growth

• Analyze market trends, customer insights, and competitor activities to identify opportunities

• Define and execute assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies

• Drive category productivity (e.g., sales per bay, margin optimization, stock efficiency)

- Drive Brand Growth & Innovation

• Manage and grow a portfolio of brands, including new brand onboarding and development

• Identify and introduce new trends, innovations, and exclusive ranges

• Work closely with suppliers to build joint business plans and growth strategies

• Develop differentiated propositions (e.g., wellness trends, functional benefits, new formats)

- Lead Commercial Negotiations & Partnerships

• Negotiate trading terms, pricing, and promotional investments with suppliers

• Ensure strong margin structure and sustainable commercial agreements

• Drive accountability on sales targets, marketing support, and execution commitments

- Deliver Omnichannel Excellence

• Ensure strong execution across stores, e-commerce, and campaigns

• Lead planogram strategy and merchandising to optimize space productivity and customer experience

• Collaborate with Marketing on campaigns, activations, and retail media opportunities

- Lead Projects & Cross-Functional Execution

• Take ownership of key commercial projects and strategic initiatives

• Work closely with Operations, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance to deliver results

• Drive improvements in processes, execution standards, and category performance

- Develop People & Build Capability

• Support development of junior team members and build category management capabilities within the team

• Foster a culture of learning, ownership, and continuous improvement

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for commercially driven individuals who can own a business, not just manage tasks.

Job Requirements

• Degree in Business, Marketing, Pharmacy, or related field

• 3-6 years experience in FMCG, retail, e-commerce, or category management

• Proven track record in managing categories/brands and driving sales performance

• Experience in supplier/vendor management and commercial negotiations

• Strong commercial acumen (pricing, margin, promotions, P&L understanding)

• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and data interpretation

Key Traits

• Proactive & results-driven - takes ownership and drives outcomes

• Open-minded & forward-thinking - embraces new ideas, trends, and ways of working

• Strong commercial acumen - understands margins, pricing, and business levers

• Project ownership mindset - able to lead and deliver multiple initiatives

• Adaptable & agile - thrives in a fast-paced, evolving retail environment

• Strong multitasking & organizational skills - able to manage complexity and priorities

• Collaborative leader - able to influence stakeholders and work cross-functionally

Important to Note

• This is a high ownership role requiring both strategic thinking and hands-on execution

• Candidates must be comfortable operating in a data-driven, performance-focused environment

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders is critical

Why Join Us

• Ownership of a high-impact category with visible business outcomes

• Opportunity to shape category strategy, brand portfolio, and innovation pipeline

• Exposure to senior leadership and strategic decision-making

• Platform to grow into Senior Category Manager / Commercial Leadership roles