Working in the Pacific Islands is more than a job, it is a lifestyle. Year-round warmth, a pace of life that is genuinely good for all, and a cost of living that gives your salary real purchasing power. There is a strong expat community which includes professionals from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and across the Pacific who came for a role and built a life.
As a key leader in this large retail and wholesale distribution group — a multi-division business with deep roots, broad reach, and a market leadership position built over decades offers the opportunity to step into something bigger. You will take full ownership of the division’s category strategy. Your experience at the highest retail level in hardware, home improvement, or building supplies, will enable the kind of commercial ownership that most corporate careers simply don’t offer.
You will have significant experience in hardware, home improvement, building supplies, or trade retail at a senior level, and you understand the industry from both a commercial and operational perspective.
You will shape the company’s range, price, how it negotiates, and how it grows. You will lead a team, own the P&L, and report directly to Group Leadership.
Key responsibilities include:
- End-to-end category strategy across the Hardware Division — range, pricing, promotion, and performance
- Supplier and vendor relationships — negotiating terms, managing performance, building long-term commercial partnerships
- Assortment and merchandising decisions across all store locations
- A team of category managers and merchandising professionals — recruiting, developing, and leading them
- Category P&L — driving sales growth, margin improvement (GMROI), and inventory optimisation
- Market and competitor analysis — staying ahead of trends and adapting the portfolio accordingly
- Cross-functional collaboration with marketing, operations, finance, and supply chain
- Executive-level reporting on category performance, strategy, and forward plans
- You will have significant experience in hardware, home improvement, building supplies, or trade retail at a senior level — and you understand the industry from both a commercial and operational perspective.
Essential Skills:
- 8+ years in category management, buying, or merchandise leadership
- Hardware, home improvement, building supplies or trade retail background — essential
- P&L ownership: revenue, gross margin (GMROI), inventory and pricing
- Supplier negotiation at national account or senior commercial level
- Team leadership — built and led a category or buying team
- Data-driven analytical capability
Whilst not regarded as essential, the following would further enhance your suitability for the role
- Multi-format or multi-location retail experience
- Private label / own-brand development
- Exposure to emerging or frontier retail markets
- Familiarity with Pacific Islands or Southeast Asia
- ERP / inventory systems proficiency
- MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification
If you are willing and able to relocate and want to elevate your career together with a lifestyle change, call John Harland on 021 707 482 for a confidential chat.
