Category Manager

About EssilorLuxottica & VisilabGroup

EssilorLuxottica is the global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of fashion, luxury, and sports eyewear. With iconic brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, Oliver Peoples, and exclusive licenses for fashion houses such as Prada, Chanel, Burberry and others, we blend innovation, craftsmanship, and style into every frame.

With over 190,000 employees in 150 countries, EssilorLuxottica is driving the transformation of the eyewear industry, from traditional vision care to smart eyewear technology such as the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.

Since 2018, VisilabGroup has been part of EssilorLuxottica, driving retail excellence in Switzerland. The group unites the leading Swiss optical brands Visilab, Kochoptik, McOptic and Linsenmax, operating across 170 stores and building a strong heritage since 1988.

Scope

As part of the Switzerland Retail Merchandise Team, the Category Manager Lenses and Contact Lenses is responsible for delivering the lenses and contact lenses category budget at OpCo level for the VisilabGroup retail optical banners
McOptic, Visilab
and
Kochoptik.

This is achieved through an assortment portfolio aligned with the banners' positioning, the commercial offer LensMat and operational excellence.

The role has a strong focus on developing a high quality lenses offer for customers and driving strategic growth for the OpCo.

It is a strategic and operational position with significant impact on the OpCo's transformation.

The role holder is fully accountable for category performance and works cross functionally across the organisation to ensure excellent in store category execution.

The position manages one direct report and several key contact lens suppliers including CooperVision Menicon and Alcon.

Key Responsibilities

Defines the commercial offer for all banners in the OpCo

• Maintains in depth knowledge of the market customer needs and competitive environment
• Builds the product offer for all banners in line with global guidelines while adapting to local needs
• Defines price positioning together with sales and marketing in line with commercial policies
• Works with the Leonardo team and Sales to shape training needs
• Maintains and improves operational procedures for the category to optimise processes and reduce costs
• Briefs master data for ERP updates and supports POS testing
• Manages relationships with local suppliers

Monitors and manages the category to deliver financial performance

• Tracks performance weekly and monthly for each banner recommending or taking corrective actions
• Contributes to monitoring margin and strategic KPIs and proposes actions that accelerate performance
• Participates in Budget and Forecast cycles and monthly business reviews

Manages new product launches and lifecycle

• Drives local execution of new product launches and global category initiatives
• Participates in the S&OP cycle ensuring demand forecasts reflect assortment changes and promotional plans
• Coordinates cross functionally with marketing communication sales master data and replenishment to execute launches
• Ensures all product information is complete accurate and updated including purchase and sales prices
• Participates in commercial and planning meetings to ensure flawless in store execution
• Organises replacement products when core assortment items are unavailable communicating changes to stakeholders

Contributes to Business Transformation

• Participates in key transformation projects including Insourcing SAP and ERP initiatives
• Leads specific workstreams when relevant

Transferal role

• Acts as the link to the global lenses category and EMEA retail merchandising teams translating global initiatives into the local market
• Collaborates with all local functions including Sales, Marketing, Store Operations and Finance
• Shares best practices tools and methods

Desired Profile

• 5-10 years industry experience in an international matrix environment
• Category management or equivalent experience
• Strong results orientation and drive to outperform
• Excellent analytical communication and collaboration capabilities
• Fluent in English plus German, French or Italian
• University degree or an optical background with strong category or strategy experience
• Experience in optical retail; optical product suppliers or FMCG sectors a strong plus