Category Manager

As a Category Manager, you will work closely with both the sales and procurement team to become the category and range expert, understanding competitor ranges, industry trends and product innovation. You will analyse data and market insight to recommend range changes and improvements that ensures the right range offering is available to serve our diverse customer base and drive growth across all product categories.

Client Details

Our client was established more than 50 years ago as a family business, and are now an international company. They are leading specialists in packaging equipment, consumables, and servicing for operational logistics and fulfilment.

Description

The main tasks and duties include but not exclusive to the following:

• Category Strategy Development - Develop and execute comprehensive category strategies that align with the overall business objectives. Identify market trends, competitive opportunities, and customer needs to drive growth.
• Market Analysis & Reporting - Conduct ongoing market research to identify opportunities, analyse competitive landscapes, and evaluate emerging trends in the industry, whilst monitoring price, product specification and range hierarchy.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration - Work closely with internal teams including Sales, Finance, Procurement & Supply Chain to ensure category strategies align with business goals, inventory management, and customer demand.
• Product Lifecycle Management - Oversee the entire lifecycle of the product within categories to end-of-life, ensuring products remain competitive and aligned with customer needs and manage the exits where appropriate.
• Data Analysis & Performance Metrics - Utilise data-driven insights to measure category performance and make recommendations on range improvements and optimisation.
• NPD - Develop a long-term NPD product plan that ensures a competitive own brand product offering is continuously in development.

Profile

A successful Category Manager should have:

• Proven experience as a Category Manager, Product Manager, or in a similar (ideally) B2B environment
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data, create reports, and drive decisions based on insights.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to think strategically and tactically to execute plans effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Job Offer

• Competitive salary circa £40,000 DOE
• Permanent position, Hybrid based south of Northampton
• Opportunity to work in the dynamic Manufacturing sector.
• Supportive work environment with a focus on professional growth.
• Benefits package tailored to the role.

If you're ready to take on this exciting Category Manager role, apply today to become part of a forward-thinking organisation in the manufacturing sector.