Assistant Category Manager- Home Textiles And Furniture & Decor in Manchester

N Brown - Who We Are and Why Work for Us

N Brown is a leading UK digital retail platform for clothing, footwear, home and technology, headquartered in Manchester. Through our strategic retail brands JD Williams, Jacamo, and Simply Be, and our unique payments offering, we exist to champion inclusivity and serve the underserved. Our customers are our passion, and we take great pride in delivering products that ensure they can look and feel amazing, without compromising on choice, value, and accessibility.

We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment that values equality for all. Our vision is that by championing inclusion, N Brown will become the UK's most loved and trusted consumer platform, shaping the future of personal expression and financial empowerment. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging are, therefore, at the heart of our culture.

In May 2024, we were delighted to be named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work. We work hard to create a happy and inclusive culture for everyone, and we are so proud to have made this list‑as voted for by our very own colleagues!

The roles - Home Textiles & Furniture and Decor

We're currently hiring two roles within our Home & Tech team, with opportunities across Home Textiles and Furniture & Decor.

Assistant Category Manager

As a Assistant Category Manager, you will bridge the buying and merchandising functions, taking ownership of commercial administration, range support, trading analysis, and supply chain management under the guidance of the Senior Category Manager or Category Manager.

Buying & Range Development

• Range Ownership: Take ownership of select ranges under the guidance of the Senior Category Manager or Category Manager, developing commercial customer‑centric ranges with the right price architecture and quality standards.
• Range Planning: Assist in range planning and range building across assigned product lines.
• Buying Administration: Perform end-to-end buying administration, keeping product information, systems, and databases fully up to date.
• Site Operations: Conduct regular website checks to spot and fix product set‑up issues, ensuring products go live quickly and accurately.
• Commercial Performance: Support the delivery of departmental margin targets.

Merchandising & Trading

• Trading Reviews: Prepare, present, and contribute to weekly trading meetings, reviewing departmental sales performance, best and worst sellers, and trended forecast estimates.
• Product Management: Identify daily and weekly trading issues, presenting corrective action plans to maintain sales demand to plan.
• Promotional planning: Build & manage a robust trading plan, working with supply base to secure SOA funding and ensure a strong promotional offer in line with key events. Manage end to end SOA funding process.
• Forecasting & Estimating: Estimate season sales forecasts at line level where required
• Market Benchmarking: Conduct competitive shopping, market analysis, and historical sales reviews to support future range plans.

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

• Supplier Relations: Regularly communicate and meet with supply base in order to build and maintain strong relationships, discuss trade and identify range opportunities.
• Critical Path: Challenge and elevate critical path delays or missed dates to safeguard product launch availability.
• Logistics Coordination: Pre-empt logistics issues through regular communication with suppliers, central service operations, warehouses, and partnership teams.
• Team Support: Support the day-to-day development and motivation of Administrative Assistants.

What You Will Need to Succeed

• Commercial Experience: Prior experience within a buying, merchandising, or similar commercial retail environment is essential.
• Education & Background: A relevant degree (e.g., fashion, business, or retail) or equivalent experience demonstrated through work.
• Core Skills: Excellent administrative, organizational, numerical, and communication skills.
• Mindset & Passion: Driven, customer-first mindset with a keen interest in fashion, home, and digital retail trends.
• AI Readiness: Open to learning, testing, and responsibly adopting AI tools to drive operational efficiency, insights, and impact.

Ways of Working

We offer hybrid working which varies across the business depending on the role you're in. Our Head Office is located in the Northern Quarter in Manchester City Centre. So if you are travelling by train, tram or bus we're perfectly located, plus we're surrounded by cool cafes, trendy bars and the best places to eat!

Our working hours are 36.17 per week over 5 days.

We believe AI will become a standard part of modern professional practice. We are therefore looking for individuals who are open to learning, testing, and responsibly adopting AI tools to improve efficiency, insight, and impact in their role.

Our promise to you:

We're an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.