At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead category performance, manage product assortment, and optimise customer journeys.
- Company: Dynamic retail company focused on innovation and growth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a vibrant team culture.
- Other info: Join a collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of our product offerings and enhance customer experiences.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills, commercial acumen, and experience in category management.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Responsibilities
- End to end responsibility of Category commercial performance
- Owner of all customer and commercial KPIs
- Lead Monday trade reporting meeting with category team on all key metrics
- Report to Category Director and other senior management team on category KPIs
Budget, Forecast Development & Reporting
- Develop annual budget + targets for category KPIs
- Deliver intermittent re-forecasts as required for business purposes
- Cascade KPIs and targets (including re-forecasts) to category team
Product Assortment Development
- Responsible for commercial performance of product portfolio
- Oversight of Buyers to ensure product assortment is delivering maximum customer and commercial output
- Identify new trends, brands, products, and range gaps; work with brand partners & identify new brands to bring newness in to address
- Execute Market Week with all brands to review performance and product pipeline
- Ensure all ongoing brands in portfolio have a joint business plan in place including customer, sales, and margin targets and two-way support plans
- Manage underperforming brands and products through range actions, stock initiatives, marketing initiatives, or e-commerce / store led initiatives
- Develop strategic brand relationships, securing incremental support and investment
Customer Journey
- Oversight of Category Co-Ordinator within category team to ensure they continuously deliver improvements of the onsite customer journey
- Analyse and optimise customer journey within category pages and PDPs
- Identify opportunities for improvements (assets, navigation, descriptions, placements) within owned category pages; this includes but is not limited to PDPs, PLPs, customer navigation, home page placements, or other landing pages
- Ensure new product launches, brand launches, or other collection / landing pages are developed, merchandised, tested and launched accurately and on time
- Develop and report on brand commercial performance during Market Week to identify asks for further improvement (e.g. assets, samples, offers)
- Collaborate with digital marketing, content, and technology departments to identify these opportunities and execute tests and/or site improvements
Weekly OTB Sign Off
- Review department WSSIs weekly with category Merchandiser including all metrics
- Review OTB weekly to ensure intake flow into the business is in line with target
Stock efficiency & Stock Health Management
- Oversight of category Merchandiser to ensure stock is managed efficiently and effectively to deliver a positive customer experience within the stock investment targets
- Ensure category stock ownership is in line with target
- Identify availability challenges and risks and develop solutions to improve availability - by brand, by channel, by SKU grade
- Identify areas of overstock or excess within each channel and develop strategies to move or exit underperforming stock
- Work with stores, warehouse, finance to execute stock initiatives
- Partner with e-commerce team to identify quick win actions to impact stock health
- Execute audits with brands to review stock performance and identify asks and targets
- Report on supplier compliance and lead claims process
Marketing, Promotional Planning & Reporting
- Create single category view of product and brand pipeline post Market Week - collaborating with category team and prioritising commercial and customer metrics
- Pitch A-launch priorities to Category Director, Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Marketing Officer in 2x per year pitch process for marketing prioritisation
- Collaborate with Marketing department to develop business Trading / Marketing Calendar including promotional and marketing plans
- Create briefs required for any category-led initiatives to inform total business
- Measure and report on performance of category-led initiatives
Margin Management
- Monitor and report weekly on Intake Margin, Discount Spend, Trading Margin
- Continuously identify opportunities for margin enhancement - buy in negotiations; marketing or promotional income; cost savings initiatives; assortment mix optimisation
Internal Leadership & Stakeholder Management
- Ensure all key category initiatives are proactively communicated to other key departments
- Partner with other departments to deliver on their objectives as needed
- Proactively identify opportunities for business improvement
- Actively participate in wider Heads of group sessions such as away days, monthly stand ups, period review
Team Development
- Establish team culture which is entrepreneurial and action-oriented supported by analytics
- Establish clear KPIs and objectives for each member of the team
- Ensure clear development plans are in place for each individual
- Hold regular development meetings with direct reports; ensure all team members are receiving regular development feedback
- Strong leadership capability and ability to strategically direct for your area and cascade business objectives through the team and wider business
- Strong commercial acumen - comfortable with analysing data, identifying patterns, and brainstorming solutions
- Strong people skills with a focus and drive to build strong relationships both internally and externally
- Proactive, entrepreneurial, self-starter who can identify opportunities and think end-to-end on delivery
- Comfortable with ambiguity and openness to change; will step into a role to help change and drive new ways of thinking and new processes
- Actively seeks feedback from peers, managers, and team to improve operating model and experience and culture for everyone involved
Team Builder Development and Leadership
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Head of Category in London employer: Space NK
As the Head of Category, you will thrive in a dynamic and supportive work environment that prioritises employee growth and development. Our company fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation, offering competitive benefits and opportunities for advancement, all while being located in a vibrant area that encourages a healthy work-life balance. Join us to make a meaningful impact on our category performance and customer journey, while enjoying the unique advantages of working with a passionate team dedicated to excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Category in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Head of Category role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their product portfolio and customer journey. We want you to walk in there ready to discuss how you can improve their KPIs and drive commercial performance!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! During interviews, share examples of how you've built strong teams and driven results. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and lead, so let that entrepreneurial spirit shine through!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let’s get you that Head of Category position!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Category in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that match the Head of Category role. Highlight your achievements in managing KPIs, budget development, and product assortment to show us you’re the right fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your previous experiences align with our needs. Don’t forget to mention your leadership style and how you can drive team success.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role involves a lot of data analysis, make sure to include examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. We want to see your ability to identify trends and optimise performance!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of it, so don’t miss out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Space NK
✨Know Your Numbers
As the Head of Category, you'll be responsible for KPIs and commercial performance. Brush up on your understanding of key metrics related to category management, such as intake margin and stock health. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership capabilities. Prepare examples of how you've built and developed teams in the past. Think about specific instances where you’ve fostered a culture of accountability and innovation, and be ready to share these stories during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
The ability to identify trends and gaps in the market is crucial. Come prepared with insights on current market trends and how they could impact the company's product assortment. Discuss any strategies you've implemented in the past that led to successful product launches or brand partnerships.
✨Collaborate and Communicate
This position involves working closely with various departments. Highlight your experience in cross-functional collaboration. Be ready to discuss how you've effectively communicated initiatives and driven results through teamwork, especially in marketing and e-commerce contexts.
