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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead category strategies and collaborate with teams to drive growth and manage supplier relationships.
- Company: Join RS Group, a global leader in engineering solutions with over 80 years of experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work options, professional development, and a diverse, inclusive culture.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team making a real impact in technology and customer satisfaction.
- Qualifications: Strong commercial acumen, excellent communication skills, and experience with data analytics required.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with innovative technologies and a wide range of products.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Corby, ENG, GB, NN17 5JF
Brand: RS Group
Work Location: Hybrid
About the Role:
The Category Manager role is a key position within the EMEA Product & Supplier Management organization, responsible for developing category strategies and collaborating with group, regional, and local stakeholders to execute growth plans, delivering profitable growth, customer acquisition, and ROI. The manager will focus on technology and suppliers, aiming to deliver a top-tier product offering by defining leading brands, latest products, and innovative technologies to drive growth across EMEA. They will also manage the supplier and product portfolio, including the entire product lifecycle. Managing key and strategic suppliers, they are accountable for supplier performance, contract negotiations, and building collaborative relationships internally and externally to foster growth.
Responsibilities and Deliverables:
- Planning, governance, and execution of category/technology strategies
- Developing and implementing supplier business plans aligned with category strategies
- Using digital data and insights to inform decisions, identify opportunities, and enhance portfolio and supplier performance
- Managing supplier relationships to support growth
- Negotiating effectively to maximize profits
- Managing costs and prices
- Driving new product introduction (NPI) and portfolio development
- Collaborating across stakeholders to develop a customer-focused category offer
- Supporting the introduction of new brands and managing product lifecycle including NPI, discontinuations, and revenue protection
- Delivering KPIs related to supplier and technology growth, revenue, margin, ROI, customer metrics, product sales, digital performance, and inventory health
- Building strong relationships with suppliers and internal teams
- Working closely with the private label team (RS Pro) for optimized range offerings
- Influencing customer satisfaction scores like NES and NPS
Experience We Are Looking For:
- Strong commercial acumen with experience in a commercial environment
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Analytical skills with the ability to extract insights from large datasets
- Experience with data analytics and digital tools such as Microsoft Excel, PowerBI, Adobe Analytics
- Team-oriented with a positive, results-driven attitude
- Effective influencing skills
- Operational problem-solving and process management capabilities
About RS Group:
RS Group has been solving engineering problems for over 80 years, turning challenges into opportunities. Our purpose is to make amazing happen for a better world. We provide a wide range of service and product solutions, shipping a parcel every 2 seconds to over 130 countries, with over 800,000 in-stock and 3 million unstocked products for more than 1.2 million customers worldwide. We value curiosity, innovation, and empathy, partnering with our customers, suppliers, colleagues, and communities to solve problems. We invest in your development and wellbeing, fostering a diverse, inclusive, and responsible culture aligned with our ESG commitments. Join our team of over 9,000 employees worldwide and unleash your potential to do amazing things.
Category Manager employer: Rsgroup
Contact Detail:
Rsgroup Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in technology and supplier management. Understanding the current market landscape will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your knowledge of the industry.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of category management, especially those who have experience in EMEA markets. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to build connections that could provide insights or even referrals for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your analytical skills and how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've improved supplier performance or contributed to growth through data-driven strategies.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your stakeholder management abilities by preparing examples of successful collaborations. Highlight instances where you've influenced outcomes or built strong relationships, as this is crucial for the Category Manager position.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in category management, supplier relationships, and data analytics. Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate your fit for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your commercial acumen and stakeholder management skills. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully managed supplier relationships or driven product growth in previous roles.
Highlight Analytical Skills: Emphasise your experience with data analytics tools like Microsoft Excel and PowerBI. Provide examples of how you've used data to inform decisions and enhance portfolio performance.
Showcase Team Collaboration: Illustrate your ability to work collaboratively with internal teams and external suppliers. Share instances where your teamwork led to successful outcomes, particularly in developing customer-focused strategies.
How to prepare for a job interview at Rsgroup
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Category Manager. Familiarise yourself with category strategies, supplier management, and how to drive growth through effective negotiations and stakeholder collaboration.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with data analytics and digital tools. Highlight specific examples where you've used insights from large datasets to inform decisions or enhance performance, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Management
Prepare to talk about your experience in managing relationships with suppliers and internal teams. Use examples that showcase your communication skills and ability to influence others to achieve common goals.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving capabilities. Think of scenarios where you've had to negotiate effectively or manage costs while driving new product introductions, and be ready to explain your thought process.
