Unified Payment Services Limited is Nigeria’s premier Payments & Financial Technology company that operates as a shared infrastructure for the banking community in Nigeria and Payments Service Provider within and outside Nigeria, with a vision to be the most preferred e-payment service provider in Africa.
Job Objectives
- Payarena Mall, the digital commerce arm of our fintech company, is seeking an experienced and commercially driven Head of General Merchandise to lead and scale the department.
- This role is responsible for the strategic direction, vendor portfolio growth, product assortment optimization, and revenue generation across a wide range of non-fashion categories such as electronics, home & kitchen, personal care, baby products, office supplies, and more.
- The ideal candidate will have deep experience in e-commerce or retail, exceptional leadership capabilities, and a strong commercial mindset to drive growth, profitability, and market competitiveness.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Category Management:
- Define and execute the strategic roadmap for the General Merchandise Department, aligned with Payarena Mall’s overall vision and growth targets.
- Lead category planning, assortment strategy, and pricing initiatives to improve customer experience and drive conversions.
- Identify trends and demand patterns to expand and optimize the product offering across key verticals.
Vendor & Partner Management:
- Acquire, manage, and grow relationships with high-impact vendors, distributors, and brand partners.
- Negotiate commercial terms, supplier incentives, exclusivity deals, and strategic campaigns.
- Monitor vendor compliance with SLAs on pricing, quality, stock availability, and fulfillment.
Revenue & Performance Management:
- Drive revenue growth through assortment expansion, product bundling, pricing strategy, and promotions.
- Track sales performance, conversion metrics, and customer feedback; use insights to adjuststrategy and enhance performance.
- Ensure effective execution of merchandising, catalog management, and content optimization.
Team Leadership & Collaboration:
- Lead and mentor a team of category managers, business development executives, and account officers.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, technology, logistics, customer service, and finance to ensure operational excellence.
- Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Key Performance Indicator
- As agreed from time to time based on business exigencies.
Job Requirements
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Marketing, or related field (MBA is a plus).
Experience:
- Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in e-commerce, retail, or FMCG—minimum 3 years in a senior leadership role. Post NYSC experience.
Key Competency:
Knowledge/Experience:
- Proven track record in managing multiple product categories and delivering commercial success.
- Deep understanding of vendor ecosystem, inventory planning, pricing strategies, and customer behavior.
- Strong leadership, negotiation, and analytical skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication.
- Proficiency in Excel, ERP systems, and e-commerce dashboards (e.g., Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce).
Preferred Attributes:
- Previous experience in managing general merchandise categories on an e-commerce platform.
- Strong market knowledge of consumer goods in Nigeria.
- Results-oriented with a passion for retail and customer satisfaction.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, data-driven, and evolving environment.
Skill/Competencies:
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Excellent written/oral communication skills.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Organizational skills.
- Confident negotiator with the ability to close the right type of business deals at the highest level.