At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the clothing category, driving growth and brand partnerships.
- Company: Join Sainsbury’s, a leading retailer with a focus on sustainability and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, and a performance-related bonus.
- Other info: Opportunities for personal growth and a supportive, inclusive culture.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in clothing category management and strong stakeholder skills required.
The predicted salary is between 56250 - 68750 £ per year.
About the team
You will join the Sainsbury’s Commercial Clothing TU, working within the branded category area that brings distinctive and relevant brand partnerships to our customers. The team sits at the centre of commercial decision making, working closely with Merchandising, Digital, Legal, Finance and external brand partners to shape a differentiated and competitive offer. With a strong focus on growth, customer relevance and sustainability, the team plays a pivotal role in strengthening our market position and performance.
More about the role
As a Category Lead, you will define and deliver a compelling branded proposition that drives growth across the Clothing TU. You will shape category and brand strategy, lead brand relationships and optimise the mix of wholesale and marketplace models to maximise sales, margin and customer relevance. Using market insight, customer data and commercial modelling, you will identify new opportunities and make informed decisions that support wider business objectives. The role includes leading brand onboarding and negotiations, developing and optimising ranges, and driving commercial performance against agreed KPIs. You will work cross‑functionally to ensure brand plans align with channel strategy, customer needs and sustainability priorities, while representing the category clearly and confidently with stakeholders. You will also support, coach and develop colleagues, building capability and ensuring consistent, high‑quality delivery.
More about you
You are commercially focused and insight‑led with a passion for product and trends. You have proven experience managing and growing complex partnerships. You are comfortable working with data and customer insight, you use evidence to inform strategy, negotiations and trading decisions, balancing brands needs with commercial outcomes. You communicate with impact and build strong relationships across teams and suppliers. Resilient and adaptable, you are confident operating in a fast‑paced environment and influencing at pace. You demonstrate Sainsbury’s valued behaviours by taking ownership, seeking better ways of working and collaborating openly and authentically with others.
Essential criteria
- Previous clothing category experience working as a key account manager or within a fashion buying team.
- You have a passion for product and a strong understanding of the clothing market.
- Demonstrated ability to define and deliver strategies aligned to commercial and customer objectives.
- Experience leading on and developing stakeholder partnerships, including negotiations, onboarding and ongoing performance management.
- Ability to use market insight, customer data and commercial analysis to inform decision making and identify growth opportunities.
- Proven capability to deliver against commercial KPIs, including sales, margin and profitability.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, enabling effective collaboration and the ability to influence across cross‑functional teams.
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new — whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits.
Here are some of them:
- Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and instore at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year.
- We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover.
- You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 10% of salary, depending on how we perform.
- Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance and you can buy up to an additional week's holiday.
- We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers.
- And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.
- Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).
Category Lead - Clothing in Coventry employer: Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's in Torquay offers a vibrant work environment where teamwork and customer service are at the heart of everything we do. As a Night Shift Trading Assistant, you'll benefit from comprehensive training, opportunities for personal growth, and the chance to make a real difference in our community by ensuring our store is well-stocked and welcoming. Join us for a rewarding experience in a supportive atmosphere that values your contributions and encourages career advancement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Lead - Clothing in Coventry
✨Get Your Foot in the Door Early
In retail, many temporary roles pop up during peak seasons, like Christmas or summer sales. Keep an eye on the calendars for these spikes and start scouting for opportunities a bit in advance. We can even help you stay sharp on your search!
✨Utilise Local Connections
Visit local shops in person and chat with managers about potential temporary openings. Many retail positions are filled by word-of-mouth, so don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation while you grab a coffee or do your weekly shopping!
✨Show Off Your Availability
Retail managers love flexibility! Make sure to highlight your availability in a casual chat or when you apply through our website. The more open you are to work varied shifts, the more likely they are to bring you on board—especially for temporary gigs!
✨Be Ready for On-the-Spot Interviews
When you walk into a shop, be prepared for the possibility of an on-the-spot interview. Dress comfortably but smartly, have a few key points about your experience ready, and be enthusiastic. Remember, it’s all about making that positive first impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Lead - Clothing in Coventry
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any relevant experience you've got, whether it’s casual jobs or volunteer work. Employers want to see that you can interact well with customers, so think about any instances where you've gone the extra mile to help someone out.
Flexibility Is Your Best Friend:Since this is a temporary position, you should emphasise your flexibility in your application. Mention your availability clearly in your cover letter and CV—employers love knowing they can rely on you to work varied hours, especially during busy periods!
Keep It Short and Sweet:For temporary roles, we don’t need an essay! Keep your CV and cover letter concise, focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills. Highlight any specific retail achievements, like sales targets met or product knowledge that demonstrates your eagerness to dive straight in.
Tailor Your Application to Sainsbury's:Don’t forget to personalise your application for Sainsbury's! Take a look at their values and product range, and if you’ve had previous experience with similar brands, mention that. It shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and have a good understanding of what they do.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
In retail, it's all about customer interaction, so be ready to share examples of how you've handled tough customer situations. We recommend thinking through a couple of scenarios before the interview where you went above and beyond to help a customer, as these can really make you stand out.
✨Brush Up on Product Knowledge
Temporary roles often have a steep learning curve because you'll need to pick up product knowledge fast. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the main products or services that Sainsbury's offers, and if possible, try to understand their current promotions. It’ll give you the edge to engage customers effectively.
✨Flexibility is Key
Being in a temporary retail role means you may need to adapt quickly to different tasks or shifts. Be prepared to highlight your flexibility and willingness to take on varied responsibilities during the interview. Think of examples where you've had to juggle multiple tasks at once – that’ll show you're a great fit for the dynamic retail environment.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since retail roles often require collaboration, be ready to showcase your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you worked well with colleagues, especially in fast-paced situations. This will underline your ability to slot into the team at Sainsbury's and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
