At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product strategy and lifecycle management for innovative lighting solutions.
- Company: Buster + Punch, a trendy London-based interior design label.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, gym membership contribution, annual bonus, and product discounts.
- Other info: Dynamic role with global collaboration and growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Join a creative team and shape the future of stylish lighting products.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in category management with strong lighting knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Peterborough City Centre
Reporting to: Chief Product Officer
Contract Hours: 37.5 hrs (9:00am – 5:30pm)
Holidays: 25 Days per annum
Other Benefits:
- Discretionary annual bonus
- Contribution to gym membership
- Salary exchange pension
- Discount on the purchase of Company products
The Company: Buster + Punch is a London-born interior fashion design label working with rare, solid materials to make extraordinary items for everyday use. From lighting and hardware to custom motorcycles and whisky bars, the brand now makes unexpected and elegant interior products. Its work is inspired by London’s fashion, music and sub-culture where it collaborates with street artists, bike builders, musicians and fashion designers to inject attitude into their crafted products. Buster + Punch is passionate about their people and pride themselves on having built a dedicated and talented team across their business.
The Role: The Lead Category Manager – Electricity & Lighting is responsible for end-to-end category ownership across product strategy, development, pricing, lifecycle management, and commercial performance. This role ensures B2B and B2C growth by building a competitive, compliant, and profitable assortment aligned to customer needs and brand positioning. The role is both strategic and tactical in nature, with a heavy reliance on knowledge and analytical skills. The Lead Product Category Manager partners closely with Product Development, Product Delivery, Sourcing, Compliance, Supply Chain, Customer Service and Sales teams to drive category success globally.
Responsibilities:
- Category Strategy & Planning: Define and execute the global category strategy for Electricity & Lighting, aligned to commercial and brand objectives. Identify growth opportunities, margin improvement initiatives, and customer-driven insights to shape range roadmaps. Conduct competitive benchmarking, market analysis, and trend scanning to ensure category relevance and leadership. Proficient in presenting and bringing simplicity to complex or technical subjects.
- Product Lifecycle Management: Own the product lifecycle from concept to launch to end-of-life, collaborating with all Product team functions, including Sourcing, Compliance, Product Development, Quality, Supply Chain. Shape a rolling 24-month roadmap covering new product development, enhancements, and rationalisation. Ensure all products launch to pre-agreed schedules. Maintain (and improve) accurate data records and product specific data in support of price lists, brochures, customer facing technical specifications and web listings remain correct. Implement pricing strategy, margin targets, and costing frameworks. Monitor category performance (sales, profitability, returns, warranty claims) and course correct proactively. Partner with Supply Chain to ensure stock, forecasts, inventory, and demand planning align with category priorities, and that discontinuation / phase in – phase out programmes are fulfilled successfully.
- Cross Functional Leadership: Collaborate with Marketing & E-comm to drive launch campaigns, packaging, assets, and channel messaging. Support Sales teams with training, selling materials, customer range reviews, and strategic retailer conversations. Work with Compliance and Quality to ensure robust testing, certification, and documentation for all SKUs. Escalate and support any Strategic project launch as priority.
Skills and Experience:
- 5+ years’ experience in category management, product management, or merchandising—must have strong lighting and electrical knowledge, and a passion for the sector.
- Strong commercial acumen with experience managing margin, pricing, and category P&L.
- Proven ability to interpret customer insights, market data, and performance metrics to inform decisions.
- Experience with PIM, Netsuite and Smartsheet advantageous, or equivalent system experience.
- Comfortable working with cross regional teams (UK/EU/US/Asia).
- Knowledge of lighting and electrical compliance standards highly desirable (CE, UKCA, UL, etc.).
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and project leadership skills.
Education and Qualifications: Degree preferred but not essential. GCSE Maths and English required.
References: The successful applicant will be asked to supply 2 references to support their application.
Lead Product Category Manager - Electricity and Lighting in Peterborough employer: Buster + Punch
Buster + Punch is an exceptional employer located in the vibrant Peterborough City Centre, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee growth, the company provides opportunities for professional development alongside attractive benefits such as a discretionary annual bonus, gym membership contributions, and discounts on products. Joining Buster + Punch means being part of a passionate team dedicated to crafting extraordinary interior products inspired by London's rich cultural scene.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Product Category Manager - Electricity and Lighting in Peterborough
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Buster + Punch!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Buster + Punch would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Buster + Punch through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Product Category Manager - Electricity and Lighting in Peterborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Lead Product Category Manager - Electricity and Lighting, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Lead Product Category Manager - Electricity and Lighting position at Buster + Punch. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Buster + Punch
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
