An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Category Lead to work for our Client in Castle Donington. This is a perm role paying up to £32,000 per annum for the right candidate. This role would be perfect stepping up from an Assistant Buyer, Commercial Analyst or Category Executive. If you are interested in the Category Lead position, then please read below.
Salary for the Category Lead:
- Up to £32,000 for the right person
Hours for the Category Lead
- Monday to Friday
- 8.30am to 5pm
- Full time
- Based in the office
Category Lead Key Responsibilities:
- End-to-End Category Ownership: Manage the full lifecycle of key product ranges from development to in-market success, ensuring commercial and strategic goals are met.
- Category Reviews & Performance Analysis: Lead regular reviews to evaluate range performance, identify trends, and recommend actions to drive sales, margin, and growth.
- Pricing & Margin Management: Take responsibility for product and customer-level pricing strategies, ensuring we balance competitiveness with profitability.
- Customer Pricing Strategy: Analyse and optimise customer pricing to strengthen relationships and maximise return.
- Range Development & Optimisation: Oversee range introductions, updates, and rationalisations to ensure the portfolio remains commercially balanced and relevant to market needs.
- Competitor Benchmarking: Monitor competitor activity, pricing, and positioning to identify opportunities and inform decision-making.
- Data Analysis & Reporting: Use advanced Excel and other tools to track category KPIs, product performance, and profitability.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Sales, Product Development, Marketing, and Logistics teams to ensure smooth launches and alignment with business objectives.
- Supplier Management: Work closely with factories and suppliers to negotiate costs, agree timelines, and deliver commercially viable products.
- ERP & Systems Management: Maintain accurate product and pricing data in Business Central and contribute to process improvement initiatives.
- Compliance Awareness: Stay informed on relevant legislation, certifications, and regulations (training provided where necessary).
About You:
- Proven experience in a Category Executive, Assistant Buyer, or Commercial Analyst role (minimum 3+ years).
- Strong commercial acumen and confidence making data-led decisions.
- Advanced Excel skills and an analytical mindset.
- Demonstrated experience in category reviews, pricing, and range management.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Highly organised, detail-oriented, and proactive with a strong sense of ownership.
- Comfortable working at pace and managing multiple priorities.
- Experience with Microsoft Dynamics NAV / Business Central preferred.
- Knowledge of furniture, interiors, or consumer goods categories desirable.
For more information and to apply, get in touch with Jane at The Recruitment Group at (phone number removed).
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