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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead category strategy and supplier management to drive growth and profitability.
- Company: Join RS Group, a global leader in engineering solutions with over 80 years of experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, personal development opportunities, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team that values innovation and collaboration while making a positive impact.
- Qualifications: Strong commercial acumen, analytical skills, and experience in supplier relationship management required.
- Other info: Work from various EMEA locations and engage with cutting-edge technologies.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Category Manager (Facilities & Maintenance)
Hybrid Working from any of our EMEA locations: UK (Manchester, Corby or London), Germany (Frankfurt), France (Beauvais ), Italy (Milan)
About the Role
The Category Manager role is a key role within the EMEA Product & Supplier Management organisation, accountable for developing the category strategy and working with group, regional and local stakeholders to execute growth plans, delivering targeted profitable growth, customer acquisition and ROI.
For the technology and suppliers they are aligned to, the category manager will be instrumental in delivering a best-in-class product offer for our customers by defining the market leading brands, latest products and ground-breaking technologies that will help drive growth across EMEA. They will also be responsible for the maintenance of the supplier and product portfolio including the end-to-end product lifecycle.
Managing a portfolio of key and strategic suppliers, they are accountable for supplier management and performance, negotiating contracts and improved commercial terms whilst building the collaborative relationships (internally as well as externally) that help drive growth.
Responsibilities and Deliverables
- Category/technology strategy planning, governance, and execution
- Development & execution of supplier business plans to help realise the defined category strategy.
- The use of digital data and insight to inform ranging decisions, highlight opportunities and drive accelerated portfolio & supplier performance
- Supplier management and relationship building to support delivery of growth plans
- Best in class negotiations to deliver accelerated profit
- Cost management and price maintenance
- NPI and portfolio development to help build a credible range and drive growth
- Strong communication and collaboration across relevant group stakeholders
- Development of best-in-class category offer, fully aligned to customer needs and the overall category strategy
- The delivery of new brands to support supplier acquisition at local, regional and group level
- Management of product lifecycle including NPI, discontinuations & revenue protection
- NPI delivery supported by the acquisition of suppliers’ transactional data and product content
- Delivery of KPIs:
- Supplier and technology growth
- Revenue & margin
- Return on Investment
- Customer acquisition & customer count
- Number of products sold
- New product introduction volume & revenue
- Digital performance
- Supplier performance targets
- Inventory availability, value and health (including OA%, OTTP% & stock turn)
- Best in class negotiations adding significant commercial value to RS
- Strong relationships with suppliers, functions and markets
- Close relationship with the private label team (RS Pro) to provide optimized range
- Influencing the NES and NPS score
Experience we are looking for
- Strong commercial acumen and experience working in a commercial environment
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
- Good analytical skillset and ability to derive insights from large datasets
- Supplier relationship management
- Experience with data analytics, online trading and digital tools e.g.- Microsoft Excel, PowerBI, Adobe Analytics
- A collaborative team player
- A positive can-do attitude takes ownership, and is very results-oriented
- Good influencing skills
- Operational problem solver and good process management capability
We are RS Group.
At RS we’ve been solving engineering problems for over 80 years: big ones, small ones, easy and difficult ones. We turn the ‘what ifs’ into the ‘why nots’, the impossible into the possible.
Our purpose? Making amazing happen for a better world.
We offer service and product solutions. We send out a parcel every 2 seconds, to over 130 countries. We provide over 800,000 in-stock and over 3 million unstocked products to more than 1.2 million customers.
We want people like you, as you are curious about things, you like doing things differently and also in a human way with empathy. Because that’s exactly how we partner with people – our customers, suppliers, colleagues and communities – to solve problems.
We’ll also invest in your development and wellbeing – because building a more diverse and inclusive culture, being ethical, responsible and committed to our Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) action plan is at the heart of everything we do.
Come and join us and over 9000 employees worldwide – and we’ll help you to think big, do more and unleash your brilliance, so you do amazing things too.
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Category Manager (Facilities & Maintenance) employer: RS Components
Contact Detail:
RS Components Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager (Facilities & Maintenance)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in facilities and maintenance. Understanding current market dynamics and emerging technologies will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your expertise.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the industry, especially those who have experience in category management. Attend relevant events or join online forums to build connections that could provide insights or even referrals for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully managed supplier relationships and driven growth in previous roles. Highlighting your achievements will showcase your capability to excel in this position.
✨Tip Number 4
Research RS Group's values and recent initiatives, particularly around sustainability and innovation. Being able to align your personal values with the company's mission can set you apart as a candidate who truly fits the culture.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager (Facilities & Maintenance)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure to thoroughly understand the responsibilities and deliverables of the Category Manager position. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experiences that align with the job description.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Focus on showcasing your strong commercial acumen, stakeholder management, and analytical skills in your CV and cover letter. Provide specific examples of how you've successfully managed supplier relationships or driven growth in previous roles.
Use Data-Driven Insights: Since the role involves data analytics, mention any experience you have with tools like Microsoft Excel or PowerBI. Include examples of how you've used data to inform decisions or improve performance in past positions.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only expresses your interest in the role but also demonstrates your understanding of RS Group's mission and values. Explain how your background and skills can contribute to their goals, particularly in delivering a best-in-class product offer.
How to prepare for a job interview at RS Components
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a solid grasp of what a Category Manager does, especially in Facilities & Maintenance. Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, such as supplier management and category strategy planning.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with data analytics and how you've used insights from large datasets to drive decisions. Highlight any specific tools you've used, like Microsoft Excel or PowerBI, to demonstrate your analytical capabilities.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Management
Since this role involves working with various stakeholders, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully managed relationships in the past. Discuss your communication strategies and how you’ve influenced others to achieve common goals.
✨Prepare for Negotiation Scenarios
Negotiation is key in this role, so think of examples where you've successfully negotiated contracts or improved commercial terms. Be ready to discuss your approach and the outcomes of those negotiations.