Category Manager - FMCG - Wheelocity

Company Overview

Wheelocity is building a rural doorstep commerce platform for Bharat. Unlike typical e-commerce models, where customers order on an app and the platform delivers, Wheelocity takes products physically to rural households every day through electric carts. Customers, known as Bhumi, buy directly from the cart at their doorstep. The carts are operated by a gig workforce called Bhuvanesh, who are sellers, partners, and the physical interface of the business. Wheelocity combines supply chain, field execution, merchandising, cash discipline, and technology into a deeply operating, phygital retail business.

Job Summary

The Category Manager - FMCG will own Wheelocity's FMCG business across a carefully curated set of food and non-food categories. This role will focus on building a high-availability, high-rotation, and economically attractive part of the Bhumi basket. The manager will report to the Sr VP / Head - Category & Consumer and will have direct accountability for FMCG topline, category margin, assortment, pricing, supplier and brand commercials, availability, inventory health, promotions, merchandising, and category growth.

Responsibilities

• Build the FMCG assortment and customer proposition: Own FMCG topline, category margin, assortment architecture, pricing, promotions, pack-size choices, and merchandising, focusing on categories that matter most for rural households.
• Own brands, supplier commercials, and category economics: Manage brand/supplier relationships, negotiate purchase price, promotional funding, credit terms, and maintain SKU-level visibility on gross margin and inventory costs.
• Build demand planning, availability, and inventory health: Forecast, replenish, and plan orders for FMCG while improving accuracy and controlling ageing and expiry.
• Improve sell-through through Bhumi and Bhuvanesh insight: Work with marketing and strategy teams to understand what products convert well at the cart level and enhance sales strategies based on customer feedback.
• Build the FMCG operating system and future digital proposition: Create category rhythms for product reviews, supplier performance, pricing, and availability, while preparing for the digital evolution of the category.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field.
• Experience: 4-8 years of FMCG category management experience across food and/or non-food.
• Skills:
  • Strong commercial negotiation skills
  • Proficiency in inventory management and analytical skills
  • Experience in managing brand and supplier relationships
  • Knowledge of rural consumer behavior
  • Ability to make strategic decisions on product assortment
  • Familiarity with digital commerce strategies

Preferred Skills

• Experience in e-commerce, quick commerce, modern trade, or B2B commerce.
• Background in tier-2/tier-3 or value-conscious consumer markets.
• Comfortable working with constrained physical assortments.

Experience

4-8 years of relevant experience in FMCG category management with a focus on end-to-end category work.

Environment

This role typically operates in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, emphasizing fieldwork and real-world insights from rural households and operational teams.

Salary

Not specified.

Growth Opportunities

Career advancement possibilities within Wheelocity as the digital layer of the business expands, allowing for broader category management and leadership roles.

Benefits

Not specified.