Category Manager - OTC

About Navi

Navi Group is one of Ireland's leading pharmacy services businesses. We partner with c.600 independent pharmacies -around one third of the Irish pharmacy market -providing the commercial, technology and franchise services they need to compete, grow and thrive. We are a privately owned, ambitious, AI-first Irish company, and our culture is built on energy, accountability, integrity and a genuine commitment to community pharmacy.

About the Role

This is a role with real commercial ownership. As Category Manager – OTC you'll own the commercial performance and development of the OTC category across Navi's Pharmacy Retail business -sales, margin, commercial income, range, pricing and promotional activity. You'll be the lead commercial point of contact for every supplier in the category, accountable for the income and growth commitments it carries, and the person whose decisions shape what hundreds of independent pharmacies put on their shelves.

Reporting to the Commercial Manager, you'll negotiate the terms, build the joint business plans, run the supplier review cycle, lead the range reviews, and set the pricing and promotional strategy. It's a broad, visible remit with the autonomy to make the calls and the accountability that comes with them.

What you'll do

• Lead supplier negotiations across the OTC portfolio -pricing, annual terms reviews, rebates, promotional agreements and new product introductions
• Own the lead commercial relationship with your suppliers, and develop joint business plans with the key ones
• Chair the monthly supplier review cycle -preparing the performance pack, holding suppliers to account against agreed KPIs and driving corrective action
• Own and optimise the OTC range -category and range reviews, SKU performance analysis, rationalisation decisions, and commercial input into planograms with Merchandising
• Set category pricing strategy and build regular and seasonal promotional plans with Marketing and suppliers, with supplier funding secured
• Manage supplier price files and the end-to-end price change process, keeping pricing accurate, visible and commercially defensible
• Turn category, market and supplier data into commercial action -monthly performance reporting, forecasting input, and recommendations you present to the Commercial Manager and senior team

What you'll bring

Essential

• At least 3–5 years of progressive buying, procurement or commercial experience, including direct ownership of supplier relationships and commercial outcomes for a portfolio
• A proven track record of negotiating pricing, rebates and annual trading terms, and of delivering rebate, margin or commercial income targets
• Demonstrable end-to-end category ownership -range, pricing, promotions and supplier performance
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical capability -advanced Excel, and familiarity with Power BI or equivalent BI tools
• A genuine AI-first mindset, and demonstrable use of AI tools in your daily commercial work
• A third-level qualification in business, commerce, supply chain, science, pharmacy or a related discipline

Desirable

• Direct experience of OTC or healthcare categories
• Experience of joint business planning with major branded suppliers
• Experience in working in a fast growing buisness

OTC experience isn't essential. If you've run a category properly in adjacent retail, FMCG or health and beauty, we'd like to hear from you.

Why this role

This is category management done properly -you own the category, you make the calls, and you see the impact. Your decisions reach around a third of the Irish pharmacy market, in a business that is investing deliberately in its Commercial function. You'll work directly with the Commercial Manager, have visibility with the senior team, and have real room to shape how OTC develops. If you're a commercially sharp category manager who wants genuine scope rather than a narrow slice of a much bigger machine, this is your role.

Equal Opportunities

Navi Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or age. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Pay: Up to €70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Employee assistance program
• On-site parking

Ability to commute/relocate:

• DUBLIN 22, County Dublin: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

• Do you have experience negotiating annual trading terms and rebate agreements with suppliers?

Experience:

• progressive buying/ procurement/ commercial: 3 years (required)

Work authorisation:

• Ireland (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in DUBLIN 22, County Dublin