Category Manager/buyer

An exciting and unique opportunity has arisen for someone to join our team in a Full Time Capacity as a Category Manager/Buyer at Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo is an equal opportunity employer, where we recognise the diversity of our workforce and community - be it on the basis of gender, age, race, sexual orientation, or religious belief. We provide specific workplace programs to support diversity and equal employment opportunities for women, people with disabilities and all cultural backgrounds.

Australia Zoo’s Retail department is focussed on excellence and strives to ensure our guests have a wonderful shopping experience with an extensive range of quality branded and non-branded products.

This role is responsible for ensuring that our retail stores have the right products in stock at the right time and at the right price to deliver against the overall business objectives from a revenue, margin and brand perspective.

The Category Manager/Buyer is target driven and uses their buying experience, analytical skills and product sourcing and development skills to ensure we achieve our goals.

This position requires a high level of dedication, analytical knowledge, and attention to detail. The role will require someone who is happy to work in a fast-paced environment, able to work in a team autonomously, and who is motivated to succeed.

**Duties May Include -**
- Support the development of the overall strategy for product categories and research new product options in the category to drive sales and achieve targets.
- Collaborate with the Chief Retail Officer to provide smooth execution of new products and product changes.
- Sourcing and researching products that align with Australia Zoo’s core values.
- Responsible for effective and efficient stock control and management within the merchandise and buying areas.
- Prepare product, sales or supplier reports as required.
- Develop strong relationships with new and existing suppliers.
- Maintenance of product databases including creating new products and managing discontinued lines.
- Product forecasting and forward orders to ensure we are always in stock of key lines.
- Prepare purchase orders for suppliers, calculating stock requirements, forecasting product demand with suppliers as required, to ensure we always have stock of key lines.
- Understanding of Australian product compliance guidelines including labelling, safety standards and other elements.
- Understanding of Brand Management, Licensing and Trademark requirements.
- Manage and quality control products from our suppliers to ensure consistency of product, and alignment with Australia Zoo’s core values and current branding.
- Maintain up to date industry knowledge of emerging product and retail trends.
- Liaise with Warehouse personnel to appropriately plan, prepare and receive stock into the Warehouse.
- Process all invoices for retail stock deliveries.
- Educate the retail team on new products, product deletions, price changes and any product updates.
- Support the merchandising of products in our retail stores, including overall cleanliness.
- Support the execution of brand consistency across all retail areas.
- Support achieving the overall strategic and operating plans for the business.
- Preserve excellent levels of internal and external customer service.
- Attending meetings as required.

**Essential Criteria -**
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
- Queensland Drivers Licence (manual is preferred).
- Precise attention to detail and analytical skills.
- Excellent customer service skills and an in-depth knowledge of customer service principles and practice.
- High level of decision making and organisation skills.
- Exceptional problem solving and planning skills with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
- Available to work weekends, public holidays and school holiday periods
- Well presented at all times.

**Preferred Criteria -**
- Minimum two years’ experience in buying, category management, merchandise or purchasing.
- First Aid and CPR Certificate would be highly regarded.
- Proof of coronavirus vaccination (unless otherwise exempt).
- Education history
- Employment history
- References
- Any qualifications you may have e.g. First Aid
- Any achievements you may like to tell us about
- Your availability (what hours can you work)
- A resume in.pdf or.doc format