Category Lead

About Lenskart.com
Lenskart is one of the world's fastest-growing eyewear brands 3,00+ stores and counting across India and a fast-expanding international footprint. Behind every store, every shelf, and every campaign sits a single question: what do we put in front of the customer, and why? That's the question this role owns.
The opportunity
As the brand scales across India and into new markets, we're looking for a Category Head to own its most important asset: the product.
This is a category-leadership role with real ownership. You'll decide what John Jacobs sells each season, how it's priced, how it's planned, and how it performs owning the category from the first sketch with the design team to the sell-through report at quarter-end. You'll balance a designer's eye for what's beautiful with a merchant's instinct for what sells, and you'll be measured on both the desirability of the range and the health of the P&L.
If you want to shape a brand's identity through its product and own the commercial outcome of those choices this is that role.
What you'll own
Category strategy & P&L. Own the assortment and commercial performance of the category frames, sunglasses, and premium ranges driving revenue, margin, and full-price sell-through against clear targets.
Range & assortment architecture. Define the seasonal range and good-better-best structure: hero products, newness, price tiers, and the breadth-versus-depth calls that keep the brand both premium and commercial.
Buying & merchandise planning. Own open-to-buy, range planning, allocation, and inventory health the right product, in the right store and channel, in the right quantity, at the right time, with disciplined markdown management.
Pricing & margin. Set the pricing architecture and promotional strategy that protects the brand's premium positioning while delivering category profitability.
Product lifecycle & launches. Partner with Product and Design to brief, build, and launch new collections managing the full lifecycle from introduction and ramp-up to refresh and exit.
Cross-functional partnership. Work hand-in-hand with Design, Marketing, Retail, Visual Merchandising, and Supply Chain to bring the range to life in-store and online and turn launches into commercial moments.
Data-led decisions. Use sell-through, conversion, attach rate, and customer data to sharpen every assortment, pricing, and planning call and to course-correct fast.
Team leadership. Build, lead, and mentor a category team of buyers, merchandisers, and planners as the brand scales.
What you bring
Deep category management, buying, or merchandising experience in fashion, lifestyle, accessories, or premium retail, ideally with category P&L ownership.
The rare blend of product instinct and commercial rigour an eye for what's desirable and the numbers to back what sells.
Strong financial fluency: OTB, margin, markdown, and inventory planning are second nature.
A feel for premium and brand-led product you understand how assortment choices build (or dilute) a brand.
Excellent cross-functional leadership across Design, Marketing, Retail, and Supply Chain.
The energy and structure to scale a category in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
Experience
Bachelor's or Master's in Merchandising, Retail Management, Business, Fashion, or a related field.
10–15+ years in category management, buying, or merchandise planning, including team leadership.
Experience owning a category or range for a multi-store retail brand strongly preferred.
Background in eyewear, fashion, lifestyle, accessories, or premium retail is a strong plus.

Work arrangement
No