Supply Chain & Category Manager

Reporting to: VP Retail & Wholesale
Location: Algarve, Portugal - with extended consecutive periods in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Candidates willing to relocate full-time are welcome and will be given preference.

Responsibilities

Category Management & Assortment

• Define the category architecture - categories, subcategories and the strategic role of each
• Build the opening assortment: SKU selection, pack formats for HoReCa vs. consumer, depth vs. breadth decisions per category
• Establish pricing policy by category, including dual-price structure for B2B volume and unit sales
• Define criteria for SKU entry and exit, and manage assortment evolution after opening
• Validate the opening assortment with key HoReCa clients before launch.

Supply Chain & Trading

• Define the sourcing model by category: Europe, Asia, the Middle East and local Tanzania - identifying the right origin based on price, quality, lead time and regulatory feasibility
• Define stock requirements by category - min/max levels, days of cover, replenishment cycles and safety stock calibrated to each sourcing corridor
• Plan and execute the opening stock order, including lead time management across multiple origins
• Negotiate commercial terms with suppliers - purchase price, payment terms, volume discounts, returns policy
• Develop and manage supplier contracts
• Select and manage freight forwarders for each sourcing corridor
• Coordinate with the trading team on supplier documentation, import paperwork and regulatory certification processes.

Profile -

• 8+ years in supply chain, trading or category management in a retail or wholesale environment
• Demonstrated experience operating in African markets with complex import regimes, port clearance and fragmented supplier landscapes. East Africa experience is a strong advantage
• Experience with food import operations across multiple sourcing origins. Familiarity with pre-shipment certification regimes and port clearance processes in African markets is essential
• Commercially sharp: able to negotiate with suppliers and read a P&L
• Comfortable with ambiguity and building processes from scratch
• Fluent in English. Portuguese is an advantage