Job Title

Role OverviewThe Category Lead – Kids Retail will be responsible for driving end-to-end category performance, including buying, merchandising, pricing, inventory planning, and profitability. The role requires strong commercial acumen, trend understanding, vendor management capability, and cross-functional coordination to deliver growth, margin, and sell-through targets.Key Responsibilities1. Category Strategy & P&L OwnershipOwn the complete P&L for assigned kidswear categories.Develop seasonal and annual category strategies aligned with business objectives.Drive revenue growth, margin expansion, and inventory optimization.2. Buying & Assortment PlanningCurate customer-relevant assortments based on trend insights and sales analytics.Lead range planning, option depth, pricing architecture, and OTB management.Ensure right mix of core, fashion, and seasonal products.3. Vendor & Sourcing CoordinationCollaborate with sourcing team to ensure timely development and production.Negotiate cost prices and improve product margins.Monitor vendor performance, lead times, and quality benchmarks.4. Inventory & Sell-Through ManagementTrack sell-through, ageing, and stock cover on a weekly basis.Drive replenishment, markdown strategy, and liquidation planning.Ensure optimum stock allocation across stores and channels.5. Store & Channel PerformancePartner with Regional Ops to drive category sell-out at store level.Analyze regional trends and customize assortment where required.Support VM and marketing initiatives to maximize category visibility.6. Market & Trend AnalysisMonitor competition, pricing benchmarks, and emerging trends in kidswear.Use data analytics to identify growth opportunities and white spaces.Key Skills & CompetenciesStrong business and financial acumen (P&L ownership).Data-driven decision making.Trend sensitivity and product eye for kids fashion.Negotiation and vendor management skills.Cross-functional stakeholder management.Strong planning and forecasting capability.