Category Lead Authentic Heritage - maternity cover (all genders)

THE ROLE & THE TEAM As a Category Lead, you will be part of a high-performing and driven team. Working alongside the Head of Category, you will act as a strategic architect to develop innovative and strategic solutions for your categories within Fashion (including Apparel, Footwear, and Accessories). You will lead, empower, and develop a team of six Category Managers who manage operative buying and assortment selection, while you focus on driving unit and cluster targets. INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN If you think you have what it takes, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles! At Zalando, our vision is to be the leading pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce – one that thrives on diversity and is truly inclusive by design. We believe that diverse teams fuel innovation and creativity, and we actively seek out talent from all backgrounds. We actively seek to reduce bias in our hiring and employment processes, focusing on your qualifications, skills, and contributions. To support this, we kindly ask that you refrain from including personal details such as your photo, age, or marital status in your CV, ensuring a fair and equitable evaluation based solely on your abilities and potential. We are committed to providing an exceptional and accessible candidate experience for everyone. If you require any accommodations to support you throughout the hiring process, please let us know – we are here to assist you. Discover more about our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/our-culture/diversity-and-inclusion WHAT WE’D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING) Drive strategy and ownership: Determine the strategic and creative direction of your assortment portfolio to maximize commercial impact, while directly mentoring and developing your team of six Category Managers. Manage portfolio performance: Define the overarching brand portfolio strategy, budget allocation, and seasonal assortment planning in close alignment with your merchandising counterpart. Cultivate strategic partnerships: Act as the principal relationship lead for high-profile brand partners, continuously evolving collaborative business models to drive long-term unit growth. Analyze and optimize: Review portfolio performance regularly against key metrics, leveraging data-driven insights to deliver high-level recommendations and commercial solutions. Collaborate cross-functionally: Partner closely with internal teams including Marketing, Content, Photo Production, and Logistics to align business strategies and maximize overall organizational profit. WE’D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF ... Demonstrated commercial experience: You bring seasoned experience in a retail or e-commerce head office environment, with a proven track record of developing category strategies and leading high-level brand partnerships (approximately 4-5 years of experience is recommended). Strategic negotiation skills: You are a natural relationship builder and closer, with extensive experience managing complex commercial terms with global suppliers and cross-functional internal stakeholders. Analytical excellence: You possess strong financial acumen and an ability to translate complex numerical data and consumer behavior trends into actionable portfolio growth. Technical curiosity: You bring a digital-first mindset and an interest in exploring how new technologies and artificial intelligence can optimize processes and transform modern fashion retail. Proactive leadership: You are an adaptable, team-focused leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, balancing independent ownership with collaborative success. Ecosystem mindset: You hold a relevant educational background or equivalent demonstrated professional experience within business, fashion management, or a related commercial field. OUR OFFER Zalando provides a range of benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer. 27 days of holiday a year to start for full-time employees (+1 day for every calendar year up to 30 days) 2 paid volunteering days a year Hybrid working model with up to 60% remote per week, actual practice is up to each team to best support their collaboration Work from abroad for up to 30 working days a year Employee shares program 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, discounts from external partners Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement) Family services, including counseling and support Health and wellbeing options (including Wellhub, formerly Gympass) Mental health support and coaching available Drive your development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review