Category Specialist – Sweets & Confectionary

METRO Pakistan (Pvt) Limited, part of the global METRO GROUP, is a leading player in the self-service wholesale sector with over 10 wholesale centers across major cities including Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Islamabad, and Faisalabad. Since its first cash & carry center opened in 2007, METRO has rapidly expanded and strengthened its market position, notably through the strategic merger with Makro-Habib in 2012. This partnership has enhanced the company’s financial capabilities and operational synergies, enabling it to deliver greater value to customers and suppliers in a competitive environment.

Key Responsibilities

- Take full ownership of Commercial KPIs, including Sales, Margin, and Supply Chain metrics.
- Drive sourcing excellence and supplier development, supporting product sourcing initiatives.
- Ensure a smooth and efficient supply chain to maintain 100% shelf availability, proactively managing seasonal variations and dynamic market changes.
- Conduct regular and thorough market and competitor surveys, responding swiftly to competitive challenges.
- Collaborate closely with the Sales Team to develop B2B customer relationships and expand business opportunities.
- Work alongside the Merchandising Team and Store Operations to optimize in-store merchandising efforts.
- Manage end-to-end promotions in coordination with Head Office colleagues, including finalizing promotional pricing, monitoring stock levels, overseeing execution at shelf, and conducting post-promotion analysis.
- Ensure strict compliance with tendering and negotiation Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) specific to each category.
- Maintain comprehensive records of all audit-related documents such as tenders, negotiations, price confirmations, and supplier listings.
- Initiate and develop new projects within the sweets and confectionery categories aimed at driving significant growth in both top-line revenue and bottom-line profitability.

Required Qualifications

- A university degree (Master’s or Bachelor’s) in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or any related Management discipline from a recognized university.
- Between 2 to 4 years of relevant industry experience.

Functional Skills

- Strong business acumen with a close connection to both business processes and people.
- Effective stakeholder management capabilities.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a focus on innovation and growth.
- Skilled negotiation abilities.
- Result-oriented approach with a proven track record of achieving targets.
- Leadership qualities to guide and motivate teams.
- Growth mindset with adaptability to evolving business needs.
- Analytical skills for problem identification and resolution.

Competencies

- Deep subject matter expertise relevant to the role.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities.
- Excellent social skills with the ability to influence and drive change within the organization.

METRO Pakistan offers a dynamic work environment within a global leader in wholesale retail, providing opportunities for professional growth and contribution to a rapidly expanding market. The role demands a proactive and strategic professional who can manage complex commercial operations while fostering collaboration across multiple teams.