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- Tasks: Lead category strategy and drive sustainable growth across all channels.
- Company: Join Halfords, a leading retailer in motoring and cycling innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, 30 days leave, and hybrid working.
- Why this job: Shape the future of retail and make a lasting impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in category management and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with a commitment to personal and professional development.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
At Halfords, our mission is to keep the nation moving through the inspiration and support of a lifetime of motoring and cycling. As a specialist retailer, we lead the market through customer-driven innovation and a distinctive product range. We are committed to providing customers with an integrated and convenient experience across retail, autocentres and digital services.
Halfords is evolving its commercial function into a true category management model fully aligned to our retail strategy and longâterm growth ambitions. As part of a significant transformation programme, we are investing in new leadership roles, new ways of working and stronger dataâled decisionâmaking across our category teams. This change represents a fundamental shift in how we drive performance, balance shortâterm trading with a longâterm strategy and build marketâleading propositions across our categories.
The Head of Category is a pivotal, newly created leadership role within our Commercial function. You will own the strategic direction, performance and development of a major category, leading your team to deliver sustainable growth, improved profitability and competitive advantage across all channels.
Key Responsibilities- Own and deliver endâtoâend category strategy, shaping range, sourcing, pricing and promotional direction across online and store channels.
- Lead category performance, holding accountability for sales, margin and profitability targets.
- Define and lead supplier strategy, building strong strategic partnerships that drive innovation, value and longâterm growth.
- Set and deliver annual category plans and budgets, ensuring performance is tracked and optimised against clear KPIs.
- Use data, insight and market intelligence to inform decisions, identify opportunities and manage risk.
- Drive range and proposition development, ensuring customer needs, market trends and own brand ambitions are fully embedded.
- Lead ESG compliance and categoryâspecific sustainability initiatives in line with wider business priorities.
- Work crossâfunctionally to align category priorities with trading, supply chain, marketing and digital activity.
- Develop, coach and inspire your team, building capability and succession within the category function.
- Highly experienced category leader from retail, trade, wholesale or adjacent environments with significant category management and buying leadership experience.
- Strong background in complex, multiâchannel commercial environments with experience operating at pace and managing complexity.
- A confident, commercially astute leader with a track record of delivering category growth and profitability.
- Highly skilled in negotiation and supplier management with experience of global sourcing and brand development.
- Dataâled and analytically strong, able to translate insight into clear strategic action.
- A collaborative leader who can influence at a senior level and bring crossâfunctional teams together.
- Comfortable setting strategy as well as rolling sleeves up to deliver execution.
- Proven ability to grow and develop a highâperforming team, balancing coaching, mentoring, and constructive challenge to build capability and drive results.
- A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, plus car allowance and an annual discretionary bonus.
- Pension, life assurance, 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave.
- Commitment to your ongoing personal and professional development, supporting you to perform at your best and progress your career at Halfords.
- Hybrid working based at our Support Centre, with three days a week on site and two days working from home.
- Access to a wide range of colleague discounts across the Halfords product and service portfolio.
- Wellâbeing and inclusion at the heart of our colleague experience, with access to support resources and active colleague networks across the business.
Not sure you meet all the criteria? Weâd encourage you to take the wheel and apply anyway! At Halfords we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. Weâre an equalâopportunities employer and proud to welcome applications from all backgrounds and embrace diversity within our one Halfords Family.
At Halfords, we operate a hybrid working policy with 3 days on site at our Support Centre in Redditch, Worcestershire.
Head of Category in London employer: Halfords
Contact Detail:
Halfords Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Head of Category in London
â¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the retail and category management space. Attend industry events or webinars, and donât be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings at Halfords!
â¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching Halfordsâ latest initiatives and category strategies. Show us youâre not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for our mission and how you can contribute to our growth. Bring your A-game!
â¨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend to do mock interviews with you. Focus on articulating your experience in category management and how it aligns with our goals at Halfords. The more comfortable you are, the better youâll perform!
â¨Tip Number 4
Donât forget to apply through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows youâre genuinely interested in joining the Halfords family. Letâs get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Category in London
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how excited you are about the opportunity to shape the future of Halfords and drive category growth.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in category management and leadership. Weâre looking for someone who can demonstrate their ability to deliver results in complex, multi-channel environments, so be specific!
Use Data to Your Advantage: Since we value data-led decision-making, include examples of how you've used data and insights to inform your strategies in previous roles. This will show us that you can translate analytics into actionable plans.
Apply Through Our Website: Donât forget to submit your application through our website! Itâs the best way for us to receive your details and ensures youâre considered for this exciting opportunity at Halfords.
How to prepare for a job interview at Halfords
â¨Know Your Category Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into Halfords' product range and category management strategies. Understand their current market position and recent innovations. This will not only show your enthusiasm but also help you discuss how you can contribute to their growth.
â¨Showcase Your Data Skills
Since the role emphasises data-led decision-making, be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've used data to drive category performance in the past. Bring along any relevant metrics or case studies that highlight your analytical prowess.
â¨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Halfords is looking for a collaborative leader. Be ready to share stories about how you've developed and inspired teams in previous roles. Highlight your coaching style and how you've balanced mentoring with driving results.
â¨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
The role requires working closely with various departments. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with marketing, supply chain, or digital teams. This will illustrate your ability to align category priorities with broader business goals.
