Category manager

Category Manager – Apparel

Melbourne | Hybrid

We've partnered with a leading apparel business to recruit an experienced Category Manager to take ownership of a key product portfolio spanning technical apparel, outerwear, and performance‐led categories.

This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded product leader who thrives at the intersection of product development, category strategy, and market execution. You'll have end‐to‐end ownership of your categories, working closely with suppliers, sales, marketing, and product teams to drive growth, profitability, and innovation.

Why You'll Love It

• Hybrid working environment
• Own and drive a significant product category with real autonomy
• Join a growing business with a strong reputation and ambitious plans
• Work closely with senior leadership and key decision‐makers
• Opportunity to influence product strategy and commercial outcomes
• Broad role spanning product, sourcing, trading, and category management

The Role

As Category Manager, you'll be responsible for developing and executing category plans that deliver commercial growth while ensuring products remain relevant, competitive, and aligned to customer needs.

You'll manage the entire product lifecycle, from market research and product development through to launch, trading performance, supplier management, and ongoing optimisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the category strategy and product roadmap across key apparel categories
• Lead product development from concept through to launch and lifecycle management
• Analyse market trends, customer insights, and competitor activity to identify growth opportunities
• Partner with suppliers on sourcing, cost negotiation, quality, and delivery performance
• Drive category sales, margin, and inventory performance
• Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, and Product teams on launches and promotional activity
• Manage product ranges, pricing architecture, and portfolio optimisation
• Monitor category performance and deliver actionable commercial insights
• Support inventory planning, forecasting, and supply chain coordination
• Build strong cross‐functional relationships to ensure seamless execution

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience in Category Management, Buying, or Product Management within apparel
• Strong product development and sourcing experience
• Deep understanding of technical apparel, casualwear, activewear, or outerwear categories
• Commercially driven with strong analytical and decision‐making capability
• Experience managing supplier relationships and negotiating costs
• Ability to interpret market trends and translate insights into commercially successful products
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Experience managing large product portfolios and multiple concurrent projects