FirstClub - Category Management Manager - Dairy

ROLE OVERVIEW:
We're looking for a Dairy Category Manager to own the end-to-end management of the dairy portfolio (milk, curd, paneer, cheese, ghee, and adjacent SKUs) - from sourcing and vendor/farmer relationships to assortment, pricing, and P&L delivery. This is an individual-contributor-to-small-team role for someone who understands the operational and quality nuances of dairy specifically, not just category management in general.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Own the P&L for the dairy category - revenue, margins, wastage, and contribution
- Manage sourcing relationships with dairy farmers, cooperatives, and processors, including quality audits and cold-chain compliance
- Build and continuously refine the dairy assortment in line with FirstClub's clean label, hormone-free positioning
- Lead vendor negotiations on pricing, terms, and service levels
- Partner with supply chain and clubhouse operations to manage shelf-life-sensitive inventory and minimize spoilage/wastage
- Track category KPIs (sell-through, freshness compliance, customer complaints, repeat rate) and drive corrective action
- Work with quality/tech teams to maintain FirstClub's product screening standards for every dairy SKU
- Run pricing and promotional calendars in coordination with the marketing team
- Stay close to consumer feedback and dairy market trends (input costs, seasonal supply shifts, emerging formats like A2/organic) to inform assortment decisions
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:
- 6+ years in category management, procurement, or category-facing supply chain roles
- Prior experience in the dairy category strongly preferred - dairy FMCG, dairy cooperative/processor, quick commerce/e-grocery dairy vertical, or dairy-focused D2C
- Strong vendor negotiation and relationship management skills, including with unorganized/farm-level suppliers
- Comfort with P&L ownership and data-driven decision-making
- Working understanding of FSSAI norms and cold-chain/quality compliance