Junior Category Manager in Watford

Are you looking for an opportunity to grow your career in commercial / buying? Would you enjoy the pace and energy of a retail environment which is collaborative, down to earth, fun and inclusive where people feel part of a winning team? Wickes are a leading multichannel retailer and we are looking for a Junior Category Manager to join our established team. This is a genuine opportunity to develop your career in commercial.

You will support the development and delivery of the category strategy working with our category teams on all aspects of our products’ journeys - from their original source anywhere in the world, right through to the shelves in our stores. Activities within the role are varied, but this role offers direct experience within the Customer and Category Teams, providing the opportunity to take ownership of many aspects of the category and buying process including range reviews and the category communication process. This is an opportunity to learn all of the skills required to develop into a Category manager of the future.

In return we ask you to bring a genuine interest in a career in commercial / buying, the energy to thrive in an environment where no day is the same, a ‘can-do’ attitude, attention to detail, strong communication skills alongside good numeracy. It is those core skills that we are looking for coupled with the drive and ambition to make a difference.

• Take full ownership for a group of suppliers and sub categories including product listings and profitability.
• Develop & own a category communication process including the development of templates and a channel / customer matrix to support timely communications of product launches / promotions/ clearance and other activities with stores and the Wickes operations team.
• Work with the product supply analyst to minimise stock holdings whilst developing improved processes which improve on shelf availability.
• Work with supply chain and suppliers to ensure product availability, management of stock turn and problem stock issues are identified and resolved.
• Ensure that all administration tasks are completed accurately and with a timely completion.
• Manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, continually increasing standards of customer service through continual review and improvement to processes.
• Work closely with the Wickes Customer Experience team, ensuring that customer need and proposition are represented within advertising & promotional activity.
• Working with the Marketing team to ensure that all deadlines for advertising / promotions / price guides are met.

• Ideally you will have some previous buying / commercial experience.
• Ability to multitask and prioritise workload alongside good time management.
• Strong numeracy and analysis skills - Knowledge of Excel, Powerpoint, Word or Google equivalents essential.
• Attention to detail with a right first-time attitude.
• Great communication skills whether face to face, telephone or email.
• Collaborative team working and relationship building.
• Positive attitude, motivated and enthusiastic with an entrepreneurial attitude & way of thinking.
• Works well under pressure and to tight deadlines.

You’ll be supported with fantastic learning and development and have the opportunity to grow and develop your career with us. We also have an early careers network to support you if you’re in your first few years of your career. We’ll also equip you with a benefits package that includes:

• Competitive bonus.
• Save-as-you-earn scheme.
• Private Medical and Life Assurance.
• Enhanced contributory pension scheme.
• Colleague discount.
• Discount platform including savings and cash back at numerous retailers, savings on gym membership, cycle to work scheme.

Our widely recognised wellbeing strategy is something we’re proud of at Wickes. As part of this, we offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits and support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, financial education & loans, and access to parental, menopause and fertility support. By giving you the support you need to do well at work, and the flexibility to make life work for you. We are giving you a career that doesn’t put your life on hold. Where you can be yourself, do your best work, and make a positive difference every day.

Wickes is a multi-channel retailer operating in the home improvement market. With 50 years in industry, Wickes now generates revenue in excess of £1.6bn across 230 stores delivered by 8,000+ colleagues. But it is our culture that is considered our best kept secret; it’s a collaborative, down to earth, fun and inclusive environment where people feel part of a winning team. All our colleagues come from different backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a determination to succeed and a passion for being the best we can be. If that sounds like you, we’ll make you feel right at home.