Commercial Manager - Private Label & Special Categories

About the role

QuickMart is looking for a Commercial Manager to lead its Private Label and Special Categories in Nairobi. The role drives profitable growth by building a differentiated assortment, improving commercial margins, strengthening sourcing capabilities and creating new growth platforms. It covers sourcing and category management, translating customer and market insights into commercially attractive products and managing category economics from sourcing through sale.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Private Label strategy across priority categories, build category roadmaps and lead product development from concept to launch
• Establish good/better/best architecture, pack sizes, price points and value propositions, and drive sales, margin and penetration
• Review SKU performance and act on slow-moving, low-margin and underperforming products
• Build strategic supplier partnerships covering quality, capacity, lead time, innovation and cost
• Lead strategy and commercial development of selected high-growth, high-margin or differentiating categories, including seasonal and event-based opportunities
• Manage category productivity using sales, margin, sell-through, availability, stock turn, ageing and return on space
• Own category P&L and deliver agreed sales, margin and profitability targets
• Set and manage pricing, margin, promotional and markdown strategies, and manage product lifecycles
• Partner with Marketing and Customer Insights, ensure commercial decisions are backed by business cases and ROI analysis, and drive assortment rationalization

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Commerce, Marketing, Supply Chain, Economics or a related field; MBA or postgraduate qualification is an advantage
• 8-12 years' experience in FMCG, retail, manufacturing, sourcing or category management
• Proven hands-on experience developing Private Label items
• Experience in category management and sourcing/procurement
• Strong understanding of Kenyan retail, modern trade and consumer dynamics
• Demonstrated international supplier negotiation experience; China/Egypt sourcing is an advantage

Required skills

• Strong financial acumen: P&L, landed cost, business case and ROI analysis
• ERP, category management and commercial analytics systems
• Core competencies: commercial acumen, strategic category management, private label development, international sourcing and negotiation, supplier relationship management, data-driven decision making, project execution, people leadership and coaching

To apply, candidates submit their CV and cover letter to the employer's HR team by 31 October 2026.