Assistant Category Manager

Brewers Decorator Centres; Eastbourne; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading decorating materials supplier in Eastbourne seeks an Assistant Category Manager to drive category growth and build supplier relationships. This role involves developing strategies, understanding customer needs, and collaborating with sales and marketing teams. Candidates should have experience in buying or category management, with strong communication skills. The position allows for hybrid working with travel to branches and suppliers, offering a competitive salary, holidays, and employee benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary

31 days holiday

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounts with selected partners

5% employer pension contribution

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Buyer or in a category management role.
• B2C retail or B2B merchant experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of effective category management.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of new strategies for category growth.
• Develop category plans through understanding customer demand.
• Communicate effectively with external suppliers and internal teams.

Skills

Supplier negotiations

Category management

Commercial awareness

Excellent communication

Job description

Hybrid working with travel to Head Office in Eastbourne two days a week & nationwide travel

Full Time - 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday

Competitive Salary Plus Pension And Benefits

We are a fourth-generation family business and we lead the UK marketplace for supplying decorating materials to decorators - both trade and retail. With several healthy and growing ecommerce businesses and operating from over 250 Decorator Centres nationwide in The Brewers Group, we have a bold vision to grow further; both on-line and through a growing store network.

We are unique in that we supply every single brand of paint in the market but we’re not just about paint of course and we anticipate significant growth in categories beyond. We aim to do business through establishing lasting partnerships with our customers and suppliers.

Ranked in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025, we are the largest independent supplier of decorating materials across the UK. We are proud of our wonderful heritage of over 120 years in our industry and our nationwide growth. Like any organisation, it’s our people who make us who we are. We are truly a family business when it comes to our people, with our mantra being to ‘help one another succeed’. We want to see all our people flourish in their roles and reach their full potential, to support our customers in developing their own businesses. To find out more about working with us visit www.Brewers.co.uk/careers

What is the role we are looking for?

We have an excellent opportunity for an Assistant Category Manager with the passion and motivation to drive category growth and build on and develop strong supplier relationships through deep collaboration and negotiation that will shape the future of our product ranges and support the business as we grow.

You will support in the development and implementation of new strategies that maximise opportunities to grow sales and market share, increase margins and stock turn. You will also spend some time in our branches to understand our business and customers, as well as visit and engage with our experienced sales teams.

In this role you will support the definition and implementation of strategic direction of our product categories by developing category plans through understanding customer demand and commercial operations that meet agreed targets.

A critical role within our business, you will be able to communicate effectively at all levels around the Company as well as with external suppliers. Using previous experience and influence to quickly establish your knowledge and credibility in this role, you will have a strong background in a Buying or Category Management role and be confident in influencing and gaining clear understanding and commitment from others.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Previous experience as a Buyer or in a category management and buying role, including supplier negotiations and range planning
• B2C retail or B2B merchant experience (essential); painting & decorating market knowledge (preferred)
• Strong commercial awareness with a deep understanding of effective category management
• The ability to develop, expand and review customer proposition, product, range and price architecture
• Understanding customer needs, gaining feedback through formal informal channels
• Experience reviewing vendor bases, building relationships with new and existing suppliers, negotiating trading terms and prices
• Working with Marketing and Visual Merchandising teams to develop promotional plans and design in-branch presentations and layouts
• Excellent communicator with the ability to adapt to different audiences
• Flexibility to work from our Head Office in Eastbourne two days a week (work from home on the remainder) with the ability to travel within the UK to visit stores and meet with suppliers during the rest of the week

What do we give in return?

We ask a lot of our people, but we reward well, and we think we have an amazing culture; at its heart our culture is one of looking out for each other and helping one another succeed.

• Competitive salary
• 31 days holiday including bank holidays increasing with service
• Discounts and rewards with selected partners - major high street brands, supermarkets etc
• Free life assurance
• 5% of your salary employer contribution to the pension plan (subject to employee contributions)
• Stream - a money management app that gives you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Employee Assistance Programme - accessible to colleagues, partner/spouse and dependents
• Virtual GP service for yourself and any dependent children to be able to access unlimited medical advice when you need it
• Medicash, an optional funded scheme where you can claim money back for routine healthcare treatments
• Brewers Colleague discounts giving you huge savings on home improvements
• Discounts and rewards with selected partners - major high street brands, supermarkets etc
• Additional financial assistance such as Cycle to Work Scheme, Season Ticket Loans and Helping Hand Loan Scheme for times of crisis
• Comprehensive Induction Programme and ongoing development
• After a qualifying period, you will also be eligible for additional benefits such as profit related pay, enhanced Maternity/Paternity pay and a chance to use our Holiday Homes in Cornwall or the Lake District

To apply for this exciting opportunity, please click the Apply Now button on this page to complete the mandatory application form.

Please note – this role may be removed from listings before the closing date if we are successful in finding an appointment or receive a high number of applications. Please ensure you fully complete the application process if you wish to be considered for this position. Due to the number of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to any applicants that do not complete the process.