Category Manager - Hobbies & Collectibles

Accredited employerSilverdale, Auckland, NZFull-timePosted 1 week ago

Job Description

CATEGORY MANAGER - HOBBIES & COLLECTIBLES

We're looking for a commercially sharp, community-minded Category Manager to join our Purchasing team at Mighty Ape. Reporting to the General Manager - Purchasing, you'll own the end-to-end commercial performance of our Hobbies & Collectibles portfolio - from Games Workshop and Trading Card Games through to scale models, Gunpla, statues and Pop! Vinyl.

It's one of the largest and most demanding portfolios in the business, with full P&L ownership and one of the most passionate customer communities in New Zealand retail behind it.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Essential

Proven commercial accountability for a product range, including sales, margin and stock performance.
Strong, current knowledge of the hobbies, tabletop gaming and collectibles industry.
A curator's eye, with evidence of deciding what comes out of a range rather than only what goes in.
Confident negotiator, comfortable managing supplier and licensor relationships at a senior level.
Excellent analytical skills, including advanced Excel and the judgement to know which numbers matter.

Nice to have

Previous experience with allocation-constrained or street-dated product.
Exposure to long lead-time import and pre-order models.
Understanding of licensor trade terms such as street dates, minimum advertised pricing and territory restrictions.
Experience running or supporting customer or community events.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Own the end-to-end commercial performance of the Hobbies & Collectibles portfolio, including sales, gross profit, net profit, inventory turnover and ROI.
Develop and execute short and long-term category strategies that grow market share against specialist hobby retailers, global collector marketplaces and direct-to-consumer licensor stores.
Own range architecture across a wide SKU set, setting clear entry and exit criteria for brands and licences and rationalising lines that aren't working.
Build and deepen senior relationships with licensors, manufacturers and distributors, and negotiate allocations on supply-constrained product.
Grow the hobby community around Mighty Ape, making sure scarce product reaches genuine fans rather than resellers, and helping plan and run community events.
Own the pre-order strategy end to end, from announcement-day listing speed through to delivery, including long-dated collectible pre-orders.
Manage the full product lifecycle from release pricing through to clearance, acting decisively on aged and slow-moving stock.
Design and run a forward-looking promotional calendar built around the global release slate and key trading events.
Use core business systems, advanced Excel and AI powered tools to analyse performance trends and react quickly through our eCommerce levers.
WHY MIGHTY APE
Free Primate subscription
Team member discount
Annual book allowance
Health Insurance subsidy
Collaborative, energetic team culture
Fun team events, social squad & more
Daily Fruit, Breakfast Cereals and Snacks
Free Team Member parking

People & Culture Business Partner at Mighty Ape — name hidden until you unlockTheir email, a letter to them, and your resume tailored to this job$5 Apply (Original)

ApplyWave is not an employer or a recruitment agency. You apply to each employer directly — we find their contact and write your letter. Real employers never charge money for a job or a visa sponsorship.

Mighty Ape

Immigration New Zealand

View Company Profile