Head of Category - 12 month Fixed Term Contract in Bolton

We’re on the hunt for a Head of Category to partner with some of the UK’s biggest electrical brands. You’ll take the lead on building and maintaining a winning product range, managing key relationships, and working hand-in-hand with our supply chain, marketing, and e-commerce teams to create the best shopping experience in the UK.

Our people are our superpower, and we’re unstoppable when we’re together! We want your ideas to flow, and what better way to make that happen than being based onsite, 5 days a week, where our culture fuels creativity, collaboration and growth.

Here’s What You Can Expect To Be Doing:

• Set the Strategy: Take full ownership of planning and range decisions for your category. You’ll define the vision, set ambitious availability targets across all channels, and make sure our customers always have the best choice at their fingertips.
• Keep Things Moving: Lead the way on major space and seasonal changes, ensuring smooth stock flow and efficient supplier management. You’ll spot opportunities to improve processes and keep everything running like clockwork.
• Lead the Team: Inspire and guide a talented buying and demand planning team. You’ll develop their skills, nurture future leaders, and create a high-performance culture where everyone strives for excellence.
• Drive Sales: Be accountable for all sales and promotional planning within your category. From seasonal campaigns to everyday pricing strategies, you’ll make sure we hit targets and deliver results.
• Own Supplier Relationships: Build strong partnerships with key suppliers, secure the best trading terms, and manage quarterly planning cycles to maximise commercial performance.
• Work as One AO: Collaborate with supply chain, marketing, service, and commercial teams to deliver a seamless experience for our customers and keep AO ahead of the competition.
• Stay on Budget: Keep a close eye on stock and waste, ensuring compliance with budgets and driving efficiency across the board.

A Few Things About You:

• Currently operating as a Trading Manager, Category Manager, Head of Category or similar roles.
• Experience leading and developing a high performing team is essential.
• Strong negotiation skills, ability to learn quickly, and confidence to respectfully challenge received wisdom.
• Highly numerate, with great attention to detail, and a natural ability to use data to identify opportunities.
• Self-motivated, strong collaboration skills, and a willingness to go above and beyond for the team.
• Highly tenacious, an ability to work well under pressure, prioritise and work within tight timescales.

A Bit About Us:

When it comes to appliances and electricals, we’ve got the lot. Washing machines? Yep. TVs? Check. Laptops? Absolutely. Everything except doorbells (just kidding, we’ve got those too).

We’re known for helping our customers brilliantly - and it’s no different for AOers. We care about more than what’s on your CV, because together we can do extraordinary things.

Our benefits are designed to cover the moments that matter to AOers:

• Holidays; 25 days, plus bank holidays (increasing to 27 days after 2 years with us!)
• Pension; Contribute 5% of your annual salary and we'll do the same, giving you a little extra support for the future.
• Be a VIP at the AO Arena; we have loads of opportunities to win free tickets and pre-sale access!
• Health & wellbeing; discounted gym membership, an onsite spa and our Help @ Hand scheme giving you access to virtual GP’s, Mental Health support and much more.
• Discounts; exclusive discounts across our product range.
• Family leave; Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption leave.
• Making a difference; 2 fully paid days a year to donate your time to any charity of your choice.
• On site perks; start your day with free on site parking, grabbing a complimentary breakfast and a coffee at our subsidised Starbucks!

To see all our benefits and perks, visit our AO Benefits page.