Category Manager

Hybrid: Several days a week at head office / branches / supplier visits with roughly 2 days working from home.

We are BSS. Established over 100 years ago, we operate as a major UK distributor of heating, ventilation, and pipeline equipment with over 50 branches. Our customers range from large national contractors to small, local independents; priding ourselves on high quality products and a great customer experience. We are proudly part of Travis Perkins plc., the UK’s largest distributor of building materials, providing unrivalled customer service from over 1,400 branches across the UK.

What’s it like to be a Category Manager? This is your opportunity to stamp your personality across the Category, supporting the implementation of product category strategies for BSS. You’ll own the customer proposition, drive innovation of new products, influence the trading margin and mix, and support the wider Commercial Strategy in growing and managing our product base and business performance. It will be important for you to engage with the branch network and sales teams to deliver the category plan.

Every day is different at BSS, but here’s what you can expect:

• Review trading performance, identifying areas of concern / opportunity and taking appropriate action in line with the category role and intent.
• Deliver category pricing and range reviews to optimise category performance.
• Define the supply base strategy and management of supplier relationships, to maximise return.
• Lead the negotiation of key supplier trading agreements and oversee accurate input into the rebate management system.
• Develop cross-functional and TP Group collaborative relationships across all brands.

Do you have what it takes? Strong commercial experience gained in a plumbing and heating or merchanting environment either working in a commercial category management or sales / customer facing role, where you have been responsible for decision making under your own initiative. The breadth of the role encompasses key supplier trading relationships, ranging and pricing decisions, and so requires someone with strong applied analytical skills using data to drive decisions, with the ability to shape and execute the commercial strategy. You will have direct responsibility for forging strong and credible relationships with suppliers, so having a collaborative and engaging style is a must. Experience of working within a fast-paced and matrix’d group environment is preferred, as the role requires exceptional communication and influencing skills engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders both internally across the group and externally too.

What’s in it for you? Make your job a journey - with support to enrol onto development schemes, giving you the tools and knowledge you need to excel and progress. Competitive salary - with bonus earning potential too! We achieve together, so we earn together too. Enhanced pension scheme - prepare for your future by matching your pension contributions up to 10%. (Conditions apply) Group-wide discounts - 20% off at Toolstation, with wider savings across the group. Sociable hours - Protect your “me time” with sociable daytime hours (no evenings or weekends!). ShareSave - own our collective success by investing with our group shares. Online shopping discounts - treat yourself more often, thanks to discounts across a range of leading retailers… from everyday essentials, to airport parking and travel!

What about our culture? Every day, we work together, giving our best to be the best. By sharing our knowledge we don’t just support our colleagues, we create an unrivalled customer experience that shows them that we really care. We’re driven to remain a truly inclusive employer. Please let your recruiter know how we can help you to thrive as your authentic self. You be you, it makes us, us.

We reserve the right to cancel or close this vacancy without notice or reason, and prior to the expiry date.