Operations Manager
Category management
Build and execute category strategies tailored to customer demographics and store profile. Review category performance weekly and recommend actions to improve sales and profitability; introduce new ranges based on trends; phase out slow-moving and underperforming products. Analyse customer buying behaviour, market trends and competitor activity to identify opportunities and optimise product assortments.
Merchandise planning
Create annual and seasonal plans, forecast demand and inventory needs, allocate stock across stores and maintain optimal product mix while minimizing excess inventory. Ensure the right product mix is maintained in every store.
Inventory management
Monitor inventory health across all categories, improve turn and sell-through, reduce aged and obsolete stock. Develop action plans for slow-moving stock. Manage full product life cycles and partner with vendors on replenishment. Optimise inventory investment and working capital while maximising stock productivity and return on inventory.
Sales & performance analysis
Track sales units, average selling price, gross profit and margin, sell-through, stock turn, weeks of cover and category contribution; identify growth opportunities and produce regular performance reports.
Visual merchandising
Set merchandising guidelines and planograms, ensure consistent in-store presentation, optimise display space by performance and conduct store visits and audits.
Product & range management
Build balanced assortments across price points and brands, manage launches and seasonal collections, recommend exits and secure exclusive ranges with suppliers.
Pricing & promotions
Recommend pricing and markdown strategies, evaluate promotional effectiveness and support marketing with the right product selection while protecting margin.
Vendor & supplier management
Build supplier relationships, participate in buying meetings, negotiate promotional and marketing support and review supplier performance.
Cross-functional collaboration
Partner with operations, marketing, supply chain, finance, store managers, vendor partners and IT/BI teams to deliver commercial goals.
Skills & competencies
- Strong commercial and analytical mindset
- Merchandising and category management expertise
- Advanced Excel and Power BI skills
- Forecasting and inventory planning ability
- Strong communication, negotiation and supplier management skills
- High attention to detail
- Project management and cross-functional influence
Experience
Required 5 years in retail merchandising, planning or category management with strong commercial and analytical mindset; ideally within optical, fashion, beauty or specialty retail; proven multi-store multi-category management; ERP (e.g. Microsoft Dynamics 365) and BI tool proficiency (e.g. Power BI).
About the company
Aster DM Healthcare Limited is one of the largest private healthcare service providers operating in multiple GCC states and is an emerging healthcare player in India. With an inherent emphasis on clinical excellence, we are one of the few entities in the world with a strong presence across primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary healthcare through our hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. We have over 20,000 dedicated employees across the geographies that we are present in, delivering a simple yet strong promise to our different stakeholders: “We’ll treat you well.” We reach out to all economic segments in the GCC countries through our differentiated healthcare services across the Aster, Medcare and Access brands.