Category Manager - Heritage - maternity cover (all genders)

Role: Category Manager - Heritage (maternity cover until December 2027) Responsibilities: - Plan, buy, and develop your own brand portfolio, taking ownership and accountability of performance KPIs and communicating Zalando's strategy to brand partners. - Shape mid- and long-term strategy for your brand portfolio, considering platform strategy, customer profile, trends, and competitive landscape. - Translate Business Cluster targets into a unit-level brand strategy, with autonomous ownership of your business area through in-season trading and future-season planning. - Support unit lead in coaching and developing junior team members, sharing knowledge and building capabilities. - Work cross-functionally with Content, Logistics, Marketing, and Production to drive sales, enhance customer experience, and maximize profit. Qualifications: - Minimum of 3 years of buying fashion experience in a Head Office environment. - Knowledge in Google Workspace, MS Office (especially Excel), and experience with AI (esp. Gemini) are a plus. - Strong understanding of the iconic global brand landscape, key consumer audiences, trends, and cultural drivers. - Proven ability to develop and execute assortment strategies grounded in customer insight and market intelligence. - Strong analytical skills with a commercially minded, KPI-driven approach. - Excellent negotiation capabilities and experience managing external brand relationships. - Confidence operating in a fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities. - Collaborative mindset, sharing knowledge and contributing to the team. - Fluent in English (written and spoken); German is a plus. What We Offer: - The unique chance to be part of a market-leading company with opportunities to learn and grow. - A fast-moving and agile working environment. - A highly motivated, international team. - Training and further development opportunities. - A corporate culture that values work results, not appearance – every day is casual Friday.