Senior Category Manager

The Opportunity

The Senior Category Manager is responsible for leading the selection, purchasing, and procurement of a compelling assortment that aligns with customer demand and brand strategy. This role involves driving market analysis, managing key supplier relationships, and ensuring optimal inventory levels to maximise sales and profitability. The Senior Category Manager will work closely with vendors, planners, marketing, allocations, and store operations teams to optimise sell-through, elevate brand positioning, and drive category growth.

Who we are

Culture Kings represents the relationship between music, sport, and fashion. These are the three foundation pillars upon which Culture Kings stands. Within each of these components, streetwear has underlined and evolved to become an essential part of culture. Culture Kings prides itself on exclusivity and superiority offering a premium retail experience across all genres, cultures, styles, and ages combined with an extensive and curated range from 100+ leading street, sport, and fashion brands from all around the globe. Each Culture Kings store displays an electrifying atmosphere unparalleled in retail presenting some of Australia’s leading DJs performing daily in-store. Frequently visited by some of the world’s best athletes, artists and tastemakers, Culture Kings is ahead of its game offering an elite perspective of the ever-changing global streetwear landscape. 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the identification and sourcing of bottom collections that align with brand strategy, market trends, and customer preferences.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key brands, suppliers, and manufacturers to secure the best product offerings, pricing, and exclusivity deals.
• Negotiate costs, terms, and long-term partnerships to drive competitive advantage and innovation.
• Analyse sales data, customer insights, and purchasing trends to determine optimal stock levels and category performance strategies.
• Oversee inventory lifecycle management, including replenishment, markdown strategies, and sell-through optimisation, ensuring minimal stock risk.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, consumer buying behaviours, and emerging bottom innovations to drive category growth.
• Attend and lead trade shows, brand showrooms, and buying appointments to identify new product opportunities and strengthen supplier negotiations.
• Develop, manage, and optimise OTB (Open-to-Buy) budgets for the respective categories to ensure strong financial performance.
• Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sales, margin, inventory turnover, and profitability, making data-backed recommendations for improvements.

Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in category management, buying, or merchandise planning
• Strong supplier relationship management and negotiation skills
• Deep understanding of retail buying cycles, trend forecasting, and customer behavior
• Strong analytical skills; ability to interpret sales data and translate into actionable strategies
• Experience managing inventory lifecycle and optimising stock levels and sell-through
• Familiarity with pricing, markdown, and promotional strategies
• Proficiency in merchandising and planning tools (e.g., Toolio or similar)
• Cross-functional collaboration experience across Planning, Marketing, E-Commerce, and Visual Merchandising
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Retail or fashion industry background, preferably within a multi-brand environment

What Culture Kings offers you

• Generous team discounts and employee recognition
• Never-ending career growth opportunities
• Exciting, fast-paced, and dynamic environment with a supportive team
• Free onsite parking
• No office politics, corporate protocol, or useless business jargon is needed. We love keeping the entrepreneurial vibe of the “best in the world” team that comes together to change the status quo

APPLY NOW!

There has never been a more exciting time to join Culture Kings as we expand, innovate, and continue to be the most sought-after streetwear retailer on the market! If this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, we want to hear from you. Please apply now with your CV outlining your experience and why you believe you are the right fit for the role.

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Culture Kings Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We're committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applicants from all walks of life. Come join us, different makes us better.