At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead category strategy and drive sales growth in a dynamic retail environment.
- Company: Join a successful, family-owned multinational business with a strong heritage.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, private medical, pension, and 30 days holiday.
- Other info: Opportunity for significant career growth and influence within a supportive team.
- Why this job: Make impactful decisions that shape the future of the category and drive profitability.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior commercial roles, with strong negotiation and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ 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.
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.
- You’ll bring 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
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 includes:
- 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.
Senior Category Manager in Wembley 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.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Category Manager in Wembley
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Senior Category Manager at White Recruitment!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like White Recruitment or be willing to refer you for that Senior Category Manager position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from White Recruitment who’s on the lookout for their next Senior Category Manager star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Senior Category Manager role at White Recruitment!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Category Manager in Wembley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at White Recruitment. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at White Recruitment
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at White Recruitment. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
