At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead category strategy and negotiate impactful supplier deals to drive sales and profitability.
- Company: Join a successful, family-owned multinational business with a strong heritage.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, private medical, pension, life assurance, and 30 days' holiday.
- Other info: Excellent career growth opportunities in a dynamic international environment.
- Why this job: Take ownership of a high-value category and make significant commercial decisions.
- Qualifications: Experience in FMCG wholesale, strong negotiation skills, and commercial judgement.
The predicted salary is between 56250 - 68750 £ per year.
Are you an experienced Senior Category Manager, Buyer or Commercial Trading professional ready to take ownership of a high-value category and make a significant impact on sales, margin and profitability? This is an exciting opportunity to join a large, successful, family-owned multinational business and play a senior role in shaping category strategy, supplier partnerships and commercial performance across the retail and wholesale market.
The opportunity:
- As Senior Category Manager, you'll have significant commercial ownership, leading the development and delivery of category plans that maximise sales, margin, retail POR and cash profit.
- You'll work closely with senior stakeholders and key suppliers, using market insight, commercial expertise and strong negotiation skills to shape range, pricing, promotions and supplier investment.
- This is a role for someone who enjoys having influence, accountability and the opportunity to make commercially significant decisions.
You'll be responsible for:
- Developing and delivering strategic category plans
- Owning ranging, pricing and promotional strategies
- Maximising sales, margin, retail POR and cash profit
- Building high-value supplier relationships and Joint Business Plans
- Negotiating impactful supplier deals, costing and margin opportunities
- Securing supplier investment for marketing, media and promotional initiatives
- Analysing market, category and promotional performance to identify growth opportunities
- Managing range development, identifying gaps and strengthening the customer proposition
- Developing the optimum balance of branded and own-brand products
- Planning seasonal promotions and key commercial initiatives
- Maximising product availability across your categories
- Influencing senior internal and external stakeholders
- Mentoring and developing Category Assistants
- Driving continuous improvement and delivering sustainable commercial growth
What you'll bring:
- We're looking for an experienced commercial leader with a strong background in FMCG wholesale, ideally within a senior buying, trading or category management environment.
- Significant senior commercial, buying or trading experience
- Proven experience developing and delivering category strategies
- A strong track record of negotiating high-impact deals on cost and margin
- Excellent commercial judgement and analytical capability
- Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills
- Confidence, tenacity and assertiveness when pursuing commercial outcomes
- Experience analysing market, category and performance data
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- A genuine commitment to continuous improvement
- BWS category experience would be advantageous
Why join?
This is an opportunity to step into a high-profile senior commercial role with genuine influence and accountability. You'll have the freedom to shape category strategy, negotiate with key suppliers and make decisions that directly influence sales, profitability, range and customer value. You'll join an established and growing international organisation with a strong family-owned heritage, diverse business interests and operations across the UK and internationally. With significant exposure to senior stakeholders, suppliers and commercial decision-making, this role offers an excellent platform for someone looking to take their category career to the next level.
The package:
- 65,000-72,000 salary
- 30 days' total holiday including bank holidays
- Private Medical
- Pension
- Life Assurance
- Onsite parking
Location: North London / Park Royal
You don't need to tick every box. If you have the majority of the relevant experience and are ready to take on a senior role with genuine commercial ownership, we'd love to hear from you. Ready to make your next career move? Apply today.
Senior Category Manager in London employer: White Recruitment
Join a pioneering renewable energy company in Appleby-in-Westmorland, where your leadership as Operations Director will directly contribute to the UK's low-carbon heating transition. With a strong focus on employee development and a culture of continuous improvement, you will enjoy competitive benefits including a generous salary, car allowance, and significant influence over business strategy. This is not just a job; it's an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a rapidly growing sector dedicated to sustainability and innovation.
