At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a high-performing team and shape category strategy for impactful results.
- Company: Join Booker, the UK's leading food & drink wholesaler with a diverse and inclusive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts at Tesco, health benefits, flexible working, and a great holiday package.
- Other info: Embrace a supportive workplace that values diversity and offers career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a fast-paced environment while developing future leaders.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in commercial leadership and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
At Booker, along with being a great place to work and giving you an opportunity to get on in your career, we also offer the following fantastic package of benefits:
- A Booker colleague card with 10% off purchases at Booker and double discount events up to three times a year.
- After 3 months service, a Tesco colleague discount card with 10% increasing to 15% off most purchases at Tesco for a 4 day period after every four-weekly pay day, ie. thirteen times a year. In addition to 10% off at Tesco Cafe and 20% off all F&F purchases.
- 10% off pay monthly & SIM only deals with Tesco Mobile for yourself, along with further great deals throughout the year.
- Up to 30% off car, pet and home insurance at Tesco bank. Terms and conditions apply.
- Free eye test when you spend £50 or more. You can also save 30% when you spend £50 or more on glasses, prescription sunglasses and contact lenses.
- 50% off health checks at Tesco Pharmacy.
- Exclusive access to discounted RAC breakdown cover rates.
- An exclusive deals and discounts website saving you money on everyday purchases including a cycle to work scheme.
- After 3 months service, you can join our annual Save As You Earn share scheme which allows you to buy Tesco shares in the future at a discount.
- Retirement savings plan (pension) - save up to 5% and Booker will match your contribution.
- Life Assurance - You are covered for death in service life cover of up to three times annual pay.
- Health and Wellbeing support and resources including our 24/7, confidential Employee Assistance Programme and Virtual GP for you and your family.
- A great holiday package.
We’re hiring a proven commercial leader to take full accountability for one of our most strategic and commercially significant categories. This role demands someone who can set a clear direction, lead a high-performing team, and deliver ambitious results across a complex and fast-moving business.
You will own the category end-to-end - shaping strategy, driving performance, influencing senior stakeholders, and representing the category at the highest levels. If you’re an experienced category expert with a strong leadership track record and the confidence to operate at scale, this is a major opportunity to make a business-wide impact.
You will be responsible for:
- Setting the strategic direction for the category, defining the long-term vision, commercial priorities and investment focus, and ensuring execution delivers meaningful business impact.
- Leading a senior, high-performing team, setting standards for performance, capability, pace and decision-making, while developing future leaders and shaping the overall culture of the function.
- Defining and evolving the category proposition across all channels, ensuring it delivers competitive advantage, meets diverse customer needs, and positions the business for future growth.
- Owning senior supplier relationships at a strategic level, negotiating complex commercial agreements, shaping joint business plans, and ensuring the business secures a market-leading position.
- Driving transformation and innovation, challenging current ways of working, unlocking efficiencies, and ensuring the category stays ahead of market trends, customer behaviour and commercial risk.
- Acting as a key senior leader within the commercial organisation, influencing cross-functional decision-making, shaping enterprise-wide priorities, and driving alignment across multiple business units.
You will need:
- Significant senior experience leading a complex commercial or category function.
- A proven track record of delivering commercial results and leading teams to high performance.
- Strong negotiation and supplier management experience, with the ability to build long-term, strategic partnerships.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with influence at all levels.
- Strategic thinking, sound judgement, and the ability to simplify complexity and deliver at pace.
- Collaborative leadership style, with a commitment to developing people and building inclusive, high-performing teams.
- Flexibility, resilience and a solutions-focused mindset in a fast-moving environment.
About The Company
Booker is the UK's leading food & drink wholesaler. We are privileged to serve independent retailers, caterers and small businesses, from locations across the country. We operate over 190 cash and carry branches, eight distribution centres, five Best Food Logistics sites, as well as six support centre locations across the UK.
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) at Booker means that whoever you are and whatever your background, we always want you to feel represented and that you can be yourself at work. In short, we’re a place where Everyone's Welcome.
We know life looks a little different for each of us. That’s why at Booker and Best, we always welcome conversations about flexible working. Some people are at the start of their careers, some want the freedom to do the things they love. Others are going through life-changing moments like becoming a carer, nearing retirement, adapting to parenthood, or something else. So, talk to us throughout your application about how we may be able to support you.
We’re proud that Booker is a Disability Confident Committed employer and we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support you can expect, please contact recruitment@bookergroup.com.
Please note: We can only accept candidates over the age of 18 if the role requires working before 6:15 am or after 9:45 pm or involves working in areas such as the warehouse, beers, wines & spirits, and driving roles. On the occasions where we have high volumes of applicants, some roles may close earlier than the advertised end date in order for us to manage all of the applicants appropriately. We will only be able to offer individual feedback to those candidates who attend an interview.
Head of Category Management in Wellingborough employer: Booker
At Booker, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring every colleague feels represented and empowered. Our vibrant work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, while our comprehensive benefits package, including discounts at Tesco and a robust retirement savings plan, supports your personal and professional growth. With a commitment to flexible working arrangements and a focus on developing future leaders, joining our team as Head of Category Management means making a meaningful impact in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Category Management in Wellingborough
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Booker, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Booker!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Category Management in Wellingborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Booker, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Booker and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Booker that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Booker
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
