Assistant Group Manager - Assortment Maintenance

Metro Global Solution Center (MGSC) is internal solution partner for METRO, a €31.6 Billion international wholesaler with operations in more than 30 countries. The store network comprises a total of 623 stores in 21 countries, of which 522 offer out-of-store delivery (OOS), and 94 dedicated depots. In 12 countries, METRO runs only the delivery business by its delivery companies (Food Service Distribution, FSD).

HoReCa and Traders are core customer groups of METRO. The HoReCa section includes hotels, restaurants, catering companies as well as bars, cafés and canteen operators. The Traders section includes small grocery stores and kiosks. The majority of all customer groups are small and medium-sized enterprises as well as sole traders. METRO helps them manage their business challenges more effectively.

MGSC, location wise is present in Pune (India), Düsseldorf (Germany) and Szczecin (Poland). We provide HR, Finance, IT & Business operations support to 31 countries, speak 24+ languages and process over 18,000 transactions a day. We are setting tomorrow’s standards for customer focus, digital solutions, and sustainable business models. For over 10 years, we have been providing services and solutions from our two locations in Pune and Szczecin. This has allowed us to gain extensive experience in how we can best serve our internal customers with high quality and passion. We believe that we can add value, drive efficiency, and satisfy our customers.

Website: https://www.metro-gsc.in
Company Size: 1000-1100
Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra, India
Type: Privately Held
Inception: 2011

Role Overview:

As part of METRO’s Global Solution Center (GSC), you will act as a strategic partner to METRO’s global procurement and Offer management functions. In this role, you will lead, build, and drive the operations of a centralized assortment management capability. You will deliver accurate assortment and market insights and enhance decision-making through analytics and process optimization. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong analytical capabilities, deep understanding of assortment processes, and a collaborative mindset.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and inspire a team of assortment insights professionals, ensuring high performance and continuous growth.
• Support the implementation of standardized processes, tools and automation for assortment maintenance activities
• Oversee external market screening and competitor analysis to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to address strategic business opportunities and implement best practices
• Ensure the quality and consistency of category review decks delivered by the team
• Foster an agile, innovative, and collaborative team culture, encouraging curiosity and continuous learning
• Support transformation initiatives, including transitions, process improvements, and new service development within GSC

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and implement opportunities for process and service improvement in assortment maintenance and insights.
• Drive efficiency and scalability of services provided by GSC
• Set up and further develop team structures and solution teams to support evolving business needs.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinker with deep expertise in assortment management, procurement, and market analysis
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills; able to turn complex data into actionable business strategies
• Excellent communicator and influencer, skilled in data visualization and storytelling for senior stakeholders
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire diverse teams in a global environment
• Collaborative, culturally aware, and effective at building relationships across functions and geographies
• Demonstrated experience in transformation, process optimization, and best practice implementation
• Highly organized, structured, and efficient in managing multiple projects and priorities.
• Agile mindset, comfortable with change and iterative improvement
• Fluent in professional English

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Economics, or a related field
• 10+ years of experience in assortment management, procurement, analytics, or related fields, with at least 3 years in a people management role (managing a team of 3+ employees)
• Experience in managing GSC operations, transitions, or leading global teams is preferred
• Experience in retail, wholesale, or FMCG is a strong plus
• Exposure to international or multi-market environments is an advantage