Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support category strategy and enhance in-store experiences through visual merchandising.
- Company: Join EssilorLuxottica, the global leader in premium eyewear with iconic brands.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, employee discounts, and a supportive finance community.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product performance and customer experience in retail.
- Qualifications: Analytical skills, Microsoft 365 proficiency, and experience in merchandising are preferred.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and collaboration across various teams.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Ruddington, Nottingham (Hybrid)
Step into a role that blends commercial category management with visual merchandising expertise. As an Assistant Category Manager – Visual Merchandising and Sun, you’ll support the delivery of category strategy, optimise product performance, and elevate the in‑store customer experience across the UK Optical Retail estate.
Why This Role?
- Impact Across the Retail Estate: Play a key role in driving category performance, product profitability and consistent visual merchandising standards.
- Strategic & Commercially Focused: Support assortment planning, lifecycle management, trading activity and new product launches.
- Collaborative Cross‑Functional Working: Partner with Supply Chain, Store Operations, Marketing, Finance and field teams to deliver high‑quality commercial execution.
If you’re commercially minded, analytical and ready to make a difference, this Assistant Category Manager role provides an exciting platform to shape performance.
What’s In It For You
- Hybrid working with occasional store and stakeholder visits
- Company pension
- Employee discount and referral programme
- Ownership of financial processes across a significant store portfolio
- Opportunity to drive commercial insight and influence business decisions
- A collaborative and supportive finance community
What We’re Looking For
- Analytical and confident decision‑making skills
- Proficient in Microsoft 365 products, especially Excel.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management
- Experience coaching, supporting or developing others
- Previous experience of working in a category or visual merchandising role would be advantageous.
Key Responsibilities Include
- Support delivery of category strategy including assortment, pricing and lifecycle management.
- Drive weekly trading processes to maximise sales, margin and product performance.
- Lead elements of new product launches using strong project management and cross‑functional coordination.
- Own planogram updates and space allocation across clusters to maximise productivity and brand experience.
- Create store communication, launch documents and support VM execution, refits and new store openings.
- Collaborate with Marketing and Supply Chain to align product flow and marketing material requirements.
- Line manage one direct report, providing coaching, development and regular support to ensure they achieve clear objectives.
About Us
EssilorLuxottica is the global leader in premium eyewear, home to brands like Ray‑Ban, Persol, Oakley and luxury licensed collections including Chanel, Prada, Giorgio Armani and Burberry. Our UK retail network spans Sunglass Hut, David Clulow Opticians, Ray‑Ban, Oakley and major department store concessions. Ready to help shape category and visual excellence across our retail estate? Let’s make it happen.
Assistant Category Manager in Nottingham employer: Vision Express
Contact Detail:
Vision Express Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Category Manager in Nottingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees on LinkedIn or at industry events. A friendly chat can give us insights into the company culture and maybe even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the latest trends in visual merchandising and category management. We want to show that we’re not just interested, but passionate about making an impact in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice our answers to common interview questions, especially those around teamwork and decision-making. We need to demonstrate our analytical skills and how we can collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after the interview! A quick thank-you email can keep us fresh in their minds and show our enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why we’re the perfect fit!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Category Manager in Nottingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Assistant Category Manager role. Highlight your analytical skills, experience in category management, and any visual merchandising expertise you have. We want to see how you can make an impact!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you a great fit. Be sure to mention your collaborative spirit and any relevant achievements that demonstrate your commercial focus.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to highlight your proficiency in Microsoft 365, especially Excel. If you've got experience with project management or coaching others, make sure to include that too! We love seeing candidates who can bring strong decision-making skills to the table.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of success. It’s the easiest way for us to review your application and get you on the path to joining our team. Let’s make it happen together!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vision Express
✨Know Your Numbers
As an Assistant Category Manager, you'll need to be comfortable with data. Brush up on your analytical skills and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. Think about specific examples where your insights led to improved product performance or sales.
✨Showcase Your Visual Merchandising Skills
This role blends category management with visual merchandising, so come prepared to talk about your experience in both areas. Bring examples of successful merchandising strategies you've implemented and how they impacted customer experience and sales. Visual aids can help make your points clearer!
✨Collaboration is Key
You'll be working with various teams, so highlight your experience in cross-functional collaboration. Prepare to share stories about how you've partnered with marketing, supply chain, or finance to achieve common goals. Emphasise your communication skills and how you manage stakeholder relationships.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills. Think through potential scenarios related to assortment planning or new product launches, and be ready to explain your thought process. This will show your strategic mindset and readiness to tackle challenges head-on.