Portfolio Manager: Beauty at Clicks Group

Introduction

• Clicks Group is looking for a commercially sharp and innovative Portfolio Manager: Beauty to lead our Beauty portfolio of categories. Reporting to the Commercial Executive: Beauty, you will drive best-in-class performance within the South African retail context, lead product innovation and differentiation, and develop the category teams who bring our Beauty offer to life.

Job description

About the role

• You will lead the Beauty portfolio to achieve and exceed its financial targets, while coordinating, directing and developing the category teams to build the commercial capability needed to sustain that performance. Your key responsibilities will include:
• Leading the development of Beauty category operating plans that align with business objectives
• Reviewing top-down and bottom-up financial plans against the merchandise calendar to accurately forecast portfolio targets
• Achieving and exceeding portfolio sales, margin and profit targets, and ensuring strong vendor relationships are built and maintained
• Providing direction on global Beauty trends, including private label and exclusive brand opportunities, to grow market share and customer loyalty
• Driving innovation and differentiation through product selection, in-store presentation and exclusivity
• Coordinating promotional and day-to-day sales and margin targets, and analysing market and category performance to take corrective action
• Coaching and developing Category Managers, creating clear career paths and succession cover for the portfolio

Minimum requirements

• B Comm/ Retail and/or Purchasing Management Degree
• 4 to 6 years' experience at Merchandise Manager/Senior Buyer level or equivalent, including leading and developing a team of Buyers or Category Managers
• Proven track record of delivering sales, margin and market share growth across a multi-category retail portfolio
• Strong financial and commercial knowledge of retail trading, including P&L management, gross margin, budgeting and forecasting
• Thorough knowledge of retail buying and merchandise planning processes, and of supplier commercial agreements, trading terms and vendor income
• Sound understanding of South African retail market trends and competitor activity
• Strong strategic and commercial planning, analytical, range, pricing and promotional planning skills
• Advanced negotiation skills, with the ability to secure favourable trading terms while maintaining long-term vendor partnerships
• Strong people leadership, conflict resolution, communication and influencing skills

Advantageous

• Business Science, BCom, MBA or CIS qualification
• In-depth knowledge of the beauty and personal care market, including skincare, cosmetics, fragrance and haircare, and of global beauty trends and emerging brands
• Experience developing and launching private label or exclusive brands, and working with global or multinational beauty brand partners
• Experience using customer loyalty and data insights to shape range, pricing and promotions, and trading across omnichannel and e-commerce
• Advanced proficiency in retail planning, BI and reporting tools such as SAP, Power BI and Excel

Apply by: 10 November 2026