Swappie is building its category management function — and this role leads it.

Swappie is at a genuine inflection point: scaling from a single-category iPhone business into a multi-category refurbished electronics house. The commercial architecture is being built now, and Category Management sits at the very heart of it.

We are looking for a Head of Category Management to lead this transition. You will have the CCO's mandate, capable direct reports who know the business, and real scope to define how category management operates at Swappie. The function is agreed; the opportunity is to make it excellent.

This is a role for someone who has built or led category management in a scaled e-commerce or retail environment, and who knows what good looks like—because your job here is to install it. The commercial architecture needs to be robust enough to scale our portfolio profitably. However, this is not a purely strategic seat: in the early stages of building the function, you will need to work alongside your team with real hands-on involvement, setting the standard through doing as much as directing.

What you'll achieve and own

• Give the function structure and develop the team: You will take on direct line management of two capable Category Managers. You will bring the frameworks and rigor needed to elevate their work from good operational management to genuine category strategy, developing them into commercially autonomous operators.

• Total portfolio ownership: You own the category portfolio strategy, revenue, and profitability across all current and future lines (iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and Accessories). You will establish performance visibility to make clear what is driving and dragging commercial performance, and use it to set priorities in conjunction with sourcing, pricing, and other stakeholders.

• Establish category management as a peer function: Your job is to make your commercial frameworks the actual tools that Sourcing and Pricing genuinely work from. You will own the intake briefs framework and sign-off, formulate pricing strategy briefs in conjunction with Pricing, Planning & Analytics.

• Lead the sourcing performance forum: You will chair and set the agenda for the monthly sourcing performance meeting alongside the Sourcing teams and Category Managers.

• Build the launch playbook: You will lead the commercial readiness for new category launches. In doing so, you will create a robust, repeatable framework Swappie can use to scale profitably for every new category it adds.

The peer dynamic

You will operate as a peer to the Heads of Sourcing and Head of Pricing, Planning & Analytics (PPA). A core part of your role is to work constructively but with conviction alongside these functions to grow our end to end category performance, both in terms of growth and profitability. This requires someone who can build relationships and challenge with data, not authority.

Beyond core commercial functions, you will also partner closely with Markets (to inform campaign prioritization and demand stimulus) and Tech & Product (to surface the assortment and UX requirements that make categories perform on-site).

What you'll bring to the team

• Experience: 7+ years in category management in an e-commerce, retail, or marketplace environment. You have led a category and a team of category managers, and you have owned a P&L.

• Commercial instinct alongside analytical rigor: The ability to read where a category is heading before the data fully confirms it, and to make confident calls in conditions of incomplete information.

• Strategic translation: Experience translating category strategy into cross-functional commercial briefs (intake, pricing, channel).

• Humble adaptability: You are comfortable inheriting a function that is already in motion: two strong CMs in place, internal knowledge running deep, and a CCO with a clear commercial vision.

• Executive communication: The strategic confidence to operate as a genuine peer to established function heads. You have a track record of leading through influence and relationship-building rather than authority.

• Market intelligence: You actively track competitor category strategy, assortment, and pricing, and translate that intelligence into category positioning decisions.

• Bonus points: Experience in consumer electronics is an advantage, and experience in recommerce or refurbished goods is a strong advantage.

Why join Swappie?

• Massive business impact: You will define how category management operates at Swappie and act as the organizing logic for the entire company's sourcing and pricing priorities.

• A mission that matters: Every device we forecast, allocate, and sell is a step toward reducing global e-waste. Your work will directly contribute to making the circular economy mainstream.

• Where profit meets purpose: Yes, we are saving the planet one device at a time. We are also proving every day that sustainability and high-growth commerce go hand-in-hand.

• The team: You will work alongside highly ambitious, smart, and deeply supportive team members who embody our culture of impact orientation, growth mindset, and inclusive leadership.

• Belong and be yourself: A supportive, low-hierarchy environment where you can be your true self and your ideas are heard. Our strength as a company comes from the diverse group of people we're proud to employ. Whoever you are – you're welcome at Swappie!

Basics

♻️ Location: We are highly flexible. Preferred locations are Finland (Helsinki), Estonia, or Germany, but we are open to fully remote setups across Europe for the right candidate. (Some travel required, 1-2 times per quarter to our HQ in Helsinki).

♻️ Start date: As soon as possible, negotiable.

♻️ Contract: Full-time and permanent.

♻️ Compensation: Based on comprehensive market data and industry benchmarks to ensure fair pay for all experience levels. The final compensation package will be tailored to your specific seniority, location, and proven impact.

♻️ Ready to make a sustainable impact? Apply now or latest by 27.5.2026! We'll start reviewing applications already during the application period. Kindly note that we don’t accept job applications via email.

Recruitment process

The process is designed to be a transparent, two-way assessment, ensuring we find the right match for our team. We look forward to your application!

• Intro with Talent Acquisition (Online, 45 min): Let’s start exploring together if this role and Swappie as an employer could be a match for you.

• Meet the Hiring Manager (Online, 60 min): Let’s get to know each other further and dive deeper into the role’s competencies and your experience with our Chief Commercial Officer, David Kelly.

• Case Study & Discussion (Online, 60 min): To give you a realistic preview of the role, we will provide a relevant business case for you to complete at home. You will then present your insights and logic in a collaborative discussion with the hiring team.

• Culture & Leadership (Online, 60 min): Impact orientation, inclusion, and growth mindset—explore the key pillars of our culture and build mutual trust in a final conversation with our CEO Jussi Lystimäki.

About us

Swappie is the leading online destination for buying and selling refurbished iPhones, iPads and AirPods in Europe. Launched by two friends in 2016, Swappie is on a mission to change consumer behaviour and make buying refurbished electronics mainstream.

A purpose-driven tech scale-up, Swappie is today home to 600+ ambitious, international talents serving 2M+ customers in 11 countries across Europe. Our annual revenue currently tops €249M in a market with huge opportunities for growth. Refurbished is the business of the future and Swappie is a frontrunner powered by bright, empathetic minds committed to doing good.