Category Specialist – Sweets & Confectionary

METRO Pakistan (Pvt) Limited, part of the global METRO GROUP, is a leading player in the cash & carry wholesale sector. Since opening its first center in Pakistan in 2007, the company has rapidly expanded to operate 10 wholesale centers across major cities including Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Islamabad, and Faisalabad. Following a strategic merger with Makro-Habib in 2012, METRO Pakistan strengthened its market position by combining resources and expertise to better serve its customers and suppliers. Globally, METRO GROUP operates over 750 stores in 25 countries with a workforce exceeding 107,000 employees.

Key Responsibilities:
- Take full ownership of commercial KPIs such as sales, margin, and supply chain performance to drive business success.
- Lead sourcing excellence initiatives and support supplier development to ensure a robust product portfolio.
- Manage the supply chain proactively to guarantee 100% shelf availability, accounting for seasonal trends and market dynamics.
- Conduct regular and comprehensive market and competitor surveys, responding swiftly to competitive challenges.
- Collaborate closely with the sales team to develop and expand the B2B customer base.
- Work alongside the merchandising and store operations teams to ensure effective in-store merchandising.
- Oversee end-to-end promotions management in coordination with head office colleagues, including finalizing promotional prices, monitoring stock levels, executing shelf displays, and conducting post-promotion analysis.
- Ensure strict compliance with tendering and negotiation Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) specific to each category.
- Maintain accurate records of all audit-related documentation such as tenders, negotiations, price confirmations, and supplier or article listings.
- Initiate and develop new projects within the sweets and confectionery categories aimed at significant growth in both top-line revenue and bottom-line profitability.

Required Qualifications:
- A university degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s) in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or any related management discipline from a recognized institution.
- Between 2 to 4 years of relevant industry experience, demonstrating a solid understanding of wholesale or retail operations.

Additional Skills and Competencies:
- Strong business acumen with a focus on stakeholder management and entrepreneurship.
- Excellent negotiation skills and a results-oriented mindset.
- Proven leadership abilities and a growth mindset to drive continuous improvement.
- Analytical and strategic thinking capabilities coupled with social skills to influence change effectively.
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams and manage complex projects.

This role offers an opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and growing organization within a global leader in self-service wholesale. Candidates with a passion for commercial excellence and supply chain management, combined with strong interpersonal skills, will find this position rewarding and challenging.