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Category Head | High Growth D2C brand

Mumbai Permanent INR5,000,000 - INR6,500,000 per year View Job Description
The Category Head will lead the end‑to‑end business, brand, and growth charter for the firm's largest category, owning the full P&L and driving both strategic and operational excellence. This role requires a strong mix of commercial acumen, consumer understanding, brand building, and cross‑functional leadership to scale a fast‑growing D2C business.
  • Opportunity to work with a high-growth D2C brand in the Wellness space
  • Opportunity to head the largest category for the business

About Our Client

  • A high-growth D2C brand in the Health & Wellness Space

Job Description

1. End-to-End P&L Ownership

  • Own category-level P&L including revenue, gross margins, contribution margins, and bottom-line delivery.
  • Drive cost efficiency, pricing strategy, demand forecasting, and inventory planning in partnership with finance and supply chain teams.
  • Monitor performance through dashboards and use data-driven insights to steer business decisions.



2. Category & Business Strategy

  • Define and execute long-term category strategy aligned with consumer needs, brand positioning, and business goals.
  • Identify whitespace opportunities and develop the product roadmap for new launches and innovations.
  • Build annual operating plans (AOPs) with clear volume, value, and channel targets.



3. 4Ps Ownership (Product, Price, Place, Promotion)

  • Lead product strategy including concept creation, packaging decisions, claims, and consumer value propositions.
  • Develop pricing models that balance competitiveness and profitability.
  • Identify the right distribution mix across D2C, marketplaces, offline retail (if applicable).
  • Craft and oversee integrated marketing campaigns to drive awareness, acquisition, and loyalty.



4. Go-To-Market (GTM) Excellence

  • Create robust GTM frameworks for new product launches and category expansion.
  • Partner with digital, growth, CRM, performance marketing, and brand teams to deliver seamless execution.
  • Build strong channel strategies for D2C and marketplace environments.



5. Leadership & Cross-Functional Stakeholder Management

  • Influence and collaborate with senior leaders across Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Tech, and Creative.
  • Align leadership teams on category priorities, resource allocation, and growth initiatives.
  • Manage and mentor high-performing cross-functional teams to drive execution.



6. Consumer & Market Understanding

  • Deeply understand the female wellness landscape, category trends, and consumer motivations.
  • Lead consumer research, competition benchmarking, and opportunity mapping.
  • Drive a consumer-first culture across the team and product pipeline.



7. Commercial & Business Acumen

  • Bring strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate insights into actionable business decisions.
  • Evaluate business performance through KPIs such as CAC, LTV, repeat rates, category margins, retention metrics, and marketing efficiencies.
  • Continuously optimize the category's financial health through levers such as portfolio mix, pricing, promotions, and operational efficiencies.



The Successful Applicant

A successful Category Head should have:

  • Diversity candidates are preferred
  • Minimum 8 + experience in a Top tier FMCG firm
  • Only Top Tier MBAs will be considered for this role
  • Should have majority of their experience in end to end brand management/marketing management
  • Strong commercial judgment with experience in managing P&Ls at multiple levels.
  • A blend of sales and marketing exposure, along with proven capability in brand building.
  • Ability to look beyond data, form independent viewpoints, and articulate ideas clearly.
  • Excellent stakeholder‑management skills with the ability to influence senior decision‑makers.
  • A well‑rounded mix of ambition and a solid ethical compass.
  • A consumer‑first, first‑principles approach to solving problems.



What's on Offer

  • If you thrive in a fast‑paced environment and love having the autonomy to make high‑stakes decisions, this role is for you. Apply now!
Quote job ref
JN-012026-6912547

Job summary

Function
Marketing
Sub Sector
Category / Brand / Product Management
What is your area of specialisation?
FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods)
Location
Mumbai
Job Type
Permanent
Job Reference
JN-012026-6912547

Diversity & Inclusion at Michael Page

We don't just accept difference - we celebrate it. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply for this role and are committed to building inclusive, diverse workplaces where everyone can thrive. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.