Category Manager in Birmingham

You will be the owner of the buying strategy as well as the leadership and development of a designated product category, creating the short, medium & long terms sales, margin and stock targets that align to the corporate 5-year ambitions. You'll be responsible for developing and executing category strategies that drive profitable growth, improve customer satisfaction, and strengthen supplier relationships across assigned product categories. Operating within a fast-paced, trade-focused environment, you'll ensure the proposition meets the customer’s needs across all sales channels - balancing commercial acumen with a deep understanding of customer needs in the building trade.

You have a long-term view of sourcing strategies; product development and customer propositional development and you lead strategic projects across multiple functions to ensure the continuous improvement of the category. Alongside the day-to-day management of the customer offer you will develop strategic plans for supplier partnerships and any future logistic requirements to deliver long term value for customers and for Selco.

You will analyse industry and consumer trends and oversee pricing promotion and product lifecycle, ensuring stock is used efficiently and that toxic stock is removed from the business in a cost-effective manner. You will continually predict the customer’s expectations, putting the customer first whilst developing effective working relationships with suppliers, internal departments and supporting all the stores. You will deputise for your Head of Buying and take a leading role within Commercial across the business as well as the supply base and where necessary, represent Selco for your category within the industry.

Role Dimensions

• Turnover budget between £50m - £180m depending on category complexity.
• Upwards of 2000 SKUs to manage.
• Full commercial P&L responsibility for sales, trading margin and total stock as well as stock health and toxic stock reduction.
• Market share, market positioning and competitor benchmarking to ensure your category is growing ahead of the market.
• Maximising company profit through efficiency gains identified from full product lifecycle management and routes to market.
• Reviewing and identifying all promotional activity to remove wasted effort while growing sales and margin.
• Manage supplier performance through KPI’s and regular review meetings.

Sales, Profit and Cash

• Maximising sales and profit for given category to meet agreed targets, through strong planning, analysis and development of global supplier relations.
• Engage the supply base in company wide initiatives that can be used to maximise supplier contributions such as Trade Media, stock returns, supplier insights portal alongside other initiatives as they are created and developed.
• Create the right strategic supplier relationships to maximise opportunities for both parties.
• Monitoring and evaluating the performance of the category against budget/forecast and giving monthly/quarterly insights to the suppliers to look for further trading opportunities Vs the market or Vs specific competitors.
• Engaging with finance, marketing, space planning, supply chain and store operations team to define and manage all elements of the P&L.
• Continuously improve the category’s working capital impact by focusing on stock turn, reduce overall stock holding through tight stock controls.
• Clear as you go to remove toxic stock as quickly as possible within the constraints of the category profit targets.

Operational

• Have an evolving vision for the category based on continuous learnings through trial and error and insights provided from a large breadth of sources.
• Stay informed on competitor activity, market developments, and regulatory changes affecting your category.
• Engage a cross-functional, business-wide group with a vision for developing, prioritising and executing your category strategies based on clear customer metrics to ensure your category’s continuous development.
• Operate and manage complex critical paths across multiple projects to ensure continued development of the offer for customers in line with the agreed category strategy.
• Create and support high level strategic relationship with all the key stakeholders across the business.

Rewards & Benefits

At Selco Builders Warehouse, we believe in rewarding our colleagues with a benefits package that truly makes a difference. Here’s what you’ll enjoy when you join our team:

• Colleague Discount– Enjoy discounts at Selco and other Grafton Group businesses to help with home improvements.
• Holiday Buy Scheme– Purchase extra holiday and spread the cost over 12 months.
• Paid Volunteer Leave– Take time off to give back to a cause close to your heart.
• Enhanced Family Leave Pay– Extra support for maternity, paternity, adoption, and fertility treatments.
• Free Breakfast– Start your day right with access to our in-store and office pantries.
• Apprenticeships & Career Development– Learn, grow, and take your career to the next level.
• Refer a Friend Bonus– Know someone great? Earn a bonus when they join our team!
• Enhanced Pension Scheme– We match every 1% above the statutory 5% that you contribute.
• EarlyPay– Access your earned wages before payday when you need them.
• Profit-Based Bonus Scheme– We work hard and celebrate success with quarterly and yearly bonuses.
• ShareSave Scheme– Share in the success you help create! Save from just £5 a month and have the option to become a Grafton Group Plc shareholder.
• Retail & Leisure Discounts– Save on groceries, restaurants, cinema tickets, theme parks, utilities and more!
• Health Cash Plan– We cover the cost of a plan that lets you claim cash back on everyday medical treatments like dental, optical, and prescriptions. Plus, access video consultations with a GP.
• Employee Assistance Programme– Free and confidential support, including counselling, financial guidance, and legal advice.
• Life Assurance– Protection for your loved ones should the unexpected happen.
• Gym Discounts– Save up to 25% at hundreds of health clubs nationwide.
• Cycle to Work Scheme– Get a new bike and accessories through salary sacrifice, saving on tax and making commuting easier!

About Us

Looking to build a career with a company that’s proud to support the nation’s tradespeople? At Selco Builders Warehouse, we’re always on the lookout for enthusiastic, down-to-earth individuals who bring a positive, team-first attitude to everything they do! We’re a well-established name in the industry with a strong store network across the UK—and we’re continuing to invest in our people, our business, and our future. It’s a busy, fast-paced environment where no two days are the same, but you’ll be surrounded by great colleagues and backed by a superb reward and benefits package. We’re committed to being a truly inclusive employer. That means creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome, respected, and able to thrive—regardless of background or experience. Health and Safety remains our top priority, and we’ll always support our colleagues in doing their best work, safely.