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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support retail growth strategies and bring exciting product ranges to life.
- Company: Join an award-winning team at Bourne Leisure, known for its supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, annual bonus, and generous discounts on holidays.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team shaping the retail experience in parks and stores.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail category management and strong data analysis skills required.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
Field-Based (Regular visits to Parks and Office)
Annual salary + bonus and benefits
We’re looking for an Assistant Category Development Manager to join our team and play a vital role in shaping the retail experience across our stores and parks. Supporting both Grocery and Non-Grocery categories, you’ll help bring exciting product ranges to life, from planograms and promotions to creative collaborations and seasonal events. With around 30% of your time spent on park, you’ll work closely with Activities, Leisure, and Retail teams, using data insights and strong supplier relationships to ensure our stores are stocked and designed to delight guests while driving business success. If you’re passionate about retail strategy, creativity, and collaboration, this is a fantastic opportunity to grow with us.
What You Will Be Doing
- Supporting category managers in planning and executing retail growth strategies, tracking sales and margin performance, and leading projects to improve KPIs.
- Assisting with category and range management, including data analysis, planogram development, stock forecasting, and aligning product ranges with customer expectations.
- Driving new product development and promotional strategies, managing supplier partnerships, POS/digital asset creation, and seasonal campaigns to boost sales and engagement.
- Managing commercial activities such as trading analysis, stock allocation, supplier negotiations, and shop floor layout advice to maximize retail performance and cost efficiency.
- Building strong relationships with park teams and suppliers, supporting operational compliance and brand standards, and contributing to guest satisfaction through effective communication and insights analysis.
What We’d Like You To Bring
- Experience in convenience or travel retail category management, with strong product knowledge in non-grocery categories such as gifts, toys, souvenirs, confectionery, and swimming accessories.
- Proven skills in new product development, range architecture, planogram creation, space analysis, and supplier management, including buying and merchandising.
- Strong business acumen with full P&L understanding, retail management experience, and the ability to define strategic and tactical plans that balance guest, team, and business needs.
- Excellent relationship, stakeholder management, negotiation, influencing, and presentation skills, supported by proficiency in data analysis, Excel, PowerPoint, and market research.
- Experience working in a retail head office environment, with indirect leadership of operational teams, confident communication, and a collaborative, curious, and resourceful approach.
What’s In It For You
- ‘Holiday Buy Scheme’
- Annual bonus
- Generous discounts on both Haven and Warner Hotels holiday for you, family and friends
- Comprehensive wellbeing support
- Access to the Bourne Leisure corporate box at the O2 Arena, London
- Exclusive discounts with corporate partners
- Exciting career pathways, including Learning and Development opportunities such as Apprenticeships and Degrees
- Enhanced family friendly policies and pay (eligibility criteria applied)
Who are we
We’re part of an award-winning Bourne Leisure family, which includes Haven & Warner Hotels. We have 9,000 fantastic team members and 39 beautiful seaside locations and our HQ based in Hemel Hempstead.
What’s it like to work with us
Working with us is ultimately defined by our exceptional people and teams. At Haven, we take pride in our Breath of Fresh Air culture, which focuses on valuing and supporting every team member. We prioritise openness and transparency in our interactions allowing our team members to be their authentic selves. We operate a hybrid working model, meaning 50% of your working week will be spent at the office, occasionally on Park, or at external events.
What can you expect during the recruitment process
The interview process will be up to 3 stages and may contain a presentation or skills test, depending on the role. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments to help you perform at your best during this process, please let us know. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries and we are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments or flexibility that you may require, including whether a role can be part-time or a job-share. We genuinely care about every candidate's experience during the recruitment process and are here to provide support where we can. If you require any assistance or reasonable adjustments while applying, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at resourcingteam@haven.co.uk.
Assistant Category Development Manager - Retail employer: Haven
Contact Detail:
Haven Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Category Development Manager - Retail
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their values, recent projects, and any news. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky interview questions! Think about how your experience aligns with the role, especially around category management and supplier relationships. Practise your answers so you can deliver them confidently.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Category Development Manager - Retail
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Retail: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for retail shine through! Share specific examples of how you've contributed to retail strategies or product development in the past. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about enhancing the retail experience.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience and skills that match the job description. Use keywords from the listing, like 'category management' and 'supplier relationships', to show us you understand what we’re looking for. This helps us see how you fit into our team!
Be Data-Driven: Since data analysis is key in this role, don’t shy away from showcasing your analytical skills. Include any experience you have with tracking sales performance or using data insights to drive decisions. We love candidates who can back up their ideas with solid numbers!
Keep It Professional Yet Personal: While we appreciate a friendly tone, remember to keep your application professional. Share your personality, but also ensure your writing is clear and concise. We want to get to know you, so feel free to include a bit about your interests in retail and how they align with our values!
How to prepare for a job interview at Haven
✨Know Your Categories
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of both grocery and non-grocery categories, especially gifts, toys, and souvenirs. Be ready to discuss how you can leverage data insights to enhance product ranges and improve guest satisfaction.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your proficiency in data analysis and tools like Excel. Think of examples where you've used data to drive decisions or improve KPIs in previous roles, as this will be crucial for the Assistant Category Development Manager position.
✨Build Relationships
Highlight your experience in stakeholder management and supplier relationships. Be prepared to share specific instances where your communication skills helped foster collaboration and achieve business goals.
✨Be Ready for Practical Scenarios
Since the interview may include a presentation or skills test, practice presenting your ideas clearly and confidently. Consider preparing a mock planogram or promotional strategy to showcase your creative thinking and strategic planning abilities.
