Category Manager

We are seeking an experienced Category Manager to join our team. As Category Manager, you will have previous experience in Food Retail and be responsible for driving the sales and profitability of your assigned areas. The role holds responsibility for all commercial aspects of a portfolio of categories including range selection, negotiation, pricing, marketing, promotional planning, new product development, and the management of a suite of planograms.

The Category Manager will be expected to continually review the goods’ supply chain, ensure consistent stock availability, negotiate with brand partners and suppliers to achieve the best terms including over-riders, promotional rebates, listings, and marketing fees.

The role requires the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with our branded partners, suppliers, and internal departments and to at all times deliver on Rontec’s core values.

This role is based in our Head Office in Watford – Working hours 9am to 5.15pm – 5 days a week.

KEY ACTIVITIES

• Maximise the store sales and margin conversion through effective brand management, supplier negotiation, and continual innovation and adaption of the shop offer.
• Management and regular review of the goods’ supply chain for the assigned categories, ensuring consistent stock availability, competitive cost prices, and reliable service to our large network of Shops.
• Initiate and develop new products/ideas and support with business projections, presentations, and project proposals.
• Negotiate to deliver competitive trading terms with suppliers; maximising over-riders for the company, including promotional rebates, listing, and marketing fees.
• Collaboratively produce planograms in line with annual range review schedule, working alongside space planners and suppliers.
• Set pricing levels/bands for all allocated products. Implement and maintain appropriate data files and monthly competitor price files.
• Responsible for providing the Database team with all necessary information to keep the back-office epos systems accurate.
• Detailed category performance tracking through analysis via multiple data points, building a thorough knowledge of designated product areas through supplier interface and research, tracking performance vs market and benchmarking against competitors.
• Be fully up to date with the latest developments and initiatives across the competitor set and throughout the wider industry.
• Create and develop promotional, seasonal, and marketing initiatives for designated areas.
• For each allocated project, review and manage the end-to-end critical path ensuring collaboration and engagement from the Shops and Operation Management. Ensure all projects land and are implemented accurately, supporting with detailed communication and ‘what good looks like’ guidance.
• To complete regular store visits to ensure category initiatives are implemented according to the Shops distributed instructions across the network and liaise with the Operations Management to rectify any issues.
• Play an active role in any major projects within the company that involves the Retail and/or Operations departments.

To be successful in the role, you should have:

• Previous Brand Management experience working within a food retail environment.
• High level of numerical and data analytical skills and a good practical knowledge of Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, IF and Average formulas)
• Ability to think strategically, show initiative, and creativity.
• Strong motivational and communication skills.
• Commercially aware and driven by targets and objectives.

What we offer:

• Competitive Salary
• 25 days annual holiday (in addition to your 8 paid bank holiday days)
• A contributory pension scheme with matching rates.
• Simplyhealth – Cashback Dental and Optician Health plans
• Employee Health & Wellbeing support
• Life Insurance

As an equal opportunities’ employer, Rontec is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Rontec.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Life insurance
• On-site parking

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Category management: 3 years (required)
• Microsoft Excel: 2 years (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Right to work in the UK Status (required)
• Drivers Licence (required)

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