At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive commercial excellence in the Pitched Roofing category and negotiate competitive supplier agreements.
- Company: Join a leading builders' merchant with a focus on growth and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and professional development.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for career advancement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic role that shapes the roofing market.
- Qualifications: Strong roofing product knowledge and proven commercial insight required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
In this role you will take ownership of driving commercial excellence in our Pitched Roofing category - delivering competitive cost prices, securing market-leading supplier agreements, and maximising value across our supply base. A key focus will be to drive down cost of goods, improve rebate structures, and negotiate favourable commercial terms that strengthen margin performance and support sustainable long-term growth.
You will lead the development and growth of our Pitched Roofing category across the UK, ensuring our branches have a competitive product range, strong supplier support, and the capability to serve customers brilliantly.
Key Responsibilities- Develop and implement a national Pitched Roofing category strategy that delivers profitable sales growth and strengthens our market position.
- Drive cost efficiencies, improve commercial agreements, and secure competitive terms, rebates, and strategic buying advantages.
- Partner with Regional Performance Directors and Branch Teams to support category adoption, drive commercial success, and enhance customer experience.
- Train, coach, and develop colleagues across the UK to build roofing product knowledge, commercial capability, and supplier relationship skills.
- Build and manage strong partnerships with key roofing product manufacturers and suppliers, negotiating competitive terms and ensuring long-term strategic alignment.
- Work with Marketing to plan and deliver national promotional campaigns, increasing category awareness and driving demand.
- Identify new product opportunities, strengthen existing ranges, and evaluate category gaps to support market-leading competitiveness.
- Manage and mitigate supply challenges through strong supplier relationships, forward planning, and strategic sourcing.
- Work closely with regional category colleagues (where applicable) to secure national supply agreements and leverage group buying power.
- Understand market dynamics, pricing trends, and competitor positioning to influence decision-making and category direction.
- Support and engage internal teams including Pricing, Stock, and Finance to ensure pricing accuracy, stock availability, and commercial performance.
- Act as the national roofing category expert, providing insight, guidance, and support to branches and commercial leadership.
- Review category dashboards, reporting tools, and performance tracking, ensuring insights are translated into clear commercial actions.
- Strong roofing product knowledge and experience in builders' merchant or distribution environments.
- Proven commercial insight with the ability to drive growth through category strategy.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, comfortable influencing senior leaders and motivating branch teams.
- Strategic mindset with hands-on approach - able to balance planning with field execution.
- Confident negotiator with strong supplier management capability.
- IT-proficient - strong Excel skills (data analysis, reporting, modelling) and solid PowerPoint capability to build compelling business cases, category decks, and supplier proposals.
- Ability to interpret and present data clearly to drive commercial decisions.
- Proactive, organised and self-driven with strong commercial numeracy and attention to detail.
- Adaptable, collaborative and comfortable operating at pace in a growing business.
- Conduct yourself professionally at all times and represent Huws Gray in a positive and respectful manner.
- Demonstrate integrity, commercial discipline, and a strong customer-focused approach.
- Build trust and credibility with colleagues, suppliers, and customers through consistent behaviour and strong communication.
- Operate with resilience, a growth mindset, and a commitment to collaborative success.
This is a national role which will involve travel and occasional nights away. You will spend time in branches, with suppliers, and at our offices in Anglesey or Cambridge, as required.
Category Manager - Pitched Roofing in London employer: Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
Contact Detail:
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager - Pitched Roofing in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals, attend trade shows, or join relevant online forums. The more people you know in the roofing sector, the better your chances of landing that Category Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Prepare to discuss your roofing product knowledge and commercial strategies in detail during interviews. Use real-life examples to demonstrate how you've driven growth and improved supplier relationships in past roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! Since this role involves securing competitive terms and rebates, be ready to role-play negotiation scenarios. This will help you feel confident when discussing terms with potential suppliers.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application, so make sure you submit it directly on our platform. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your progress and get you in front of the right people quickly.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager - Pitched Roofing in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Roofing Knowledge: Make sure to highlight your experience and knowledge in the roofing sector. We want to see how you can bring that expertise to the table, especially when it comes to driving commercial excellence in our Pitched Roofing category.
Be a Numbers Person: Since this role involves a lot of data analysis and commercial insight, don’t shy away from showcasing your Excel skills. We love seeing candidates who can interpret data and present it clearly to drive decisions.
Communicate Like a Pro: Your application should reflect your excellent communication skills. Whether it's influencing senior leaders or motivating branch teams, we want to see how you can engage with different stakeholders effectively.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity in our Pitched Roofing category!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
✨Know Your Roofing Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your roofing product knowledge before the interview. Understand the latest trends, key suppliers, and market dynamics in the pitched roofing category. This will not only show your expertise but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past negotiations where you've secured competitive terms or improved supplier agreements. Be ready to discuss your approach and the outcomes. This will highlight your ability to drive cost efficiencies and strengthen margin performance.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you would partner with Regional Performance Directors and Branch Teams. Prepare to discuss strategies for enhancing customer experience and driving commercial success. Showing that you can effectively engage and influence stakeholders will set you apart.
✨Data is Your Friend
Brush up on your Excel skills and be prepared to discuss how you've used data analysis to inform commercial decisions in the past. Being able to interpret and present data clearly will be crucial in this role, so come armed with examples of how you've done this successfully.