Assistant Category Manager

Travis Perkins plc; Northampton; Remote; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading building materials distributor in the UK is seeking an Assistant Category Manager to join their Timber Commercial team. You will drive product innovation, engage with suppliers, and ensure strategic growth in the Timber category. Excellent negotiation skills and a background in timber or joinery are preferred. The role offers a competitive benefits package and a supportive environment for career development.

Benefits

Save-as-you-earn scheme

Buy-as-you-earn scheme

Contributory pension scheme

Life assurance

Colleague discount across Group businesses

Qualifications

• Strong background in Category or Product experience.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• Passion and ambition for best deals.

Responsibilities

• Own the customer proposition and drive product innovation.
• Support the implementation of product category strategies.
• Analyse data to inform supplier and business initiatives.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Commercial acumen

Communication skills

Problem solving

Job description

Overview

Do you thrive in a commercial environment and enjoy negotiating with suppliers? Do you relish the challenge of driving sustainable profitable sales and putting customers and branches at the heart of everything you do? Do you have great attention to detail, an ability to multitask and enjoy problem solving? If the answer is yes then Travis Perkins are currently recruiting for an Assistant Category Manager to join their Timber Commercial team. You can be based anywhere in the UK! Your location isn’t important but you must be able to drive and travel to our supplier locations for regular meetings.

What you’ll do

This is your opportunity to stamp your personality across our Timber Category, supporting the implementation of product category strategies within the Travis Perkins Group whilst being fully supported along the way.

You’ll own the customer proposition, you will drive innovation of new products, influence the trading margin and mix - and support the wider Commercial Strategy in growing and managing our product base and business performance whilst building and maintaining fantastic relationships with our branches, providing them with the service that they need to win.

You will also help with the creation and delivery of individual range and pricing strategies aligned to the category plan and overall business strategy, to deliver or exceed AOP and grow market share.

Along with the above you will…

• Help with the creation and delivery of individual range and pricing strategies aligned to the category plan and overall business strategy, to deliver or exceed AOP and grow market share.
• Creation of accurate content for promotional / marketing activity to support my category/supplier plans.
• The creation of individual supplier and trading plans as aligned to the category plan, to optimise sales and profit potential.
• Analyse data and produce and review reports to develop the ‘fact-base’ for my categories, and use that information to inform/direct activities with suppliers and business initiatives.
• Identify areas of opportunity/concern within the day to day category performance and suggest/take appropriate action.
• Utilise my knowledge and experience to participate in and lead supplier negotiations/general update meetings, working with the Category Manager / Category Assistant to ensure any preparatory materials are delivered accurately and timely.
• Development of relationships to support the management of key stakeholders, including preparation and delivery of presentations to achieve category objectives.
• Work independently using my commercial acumen to identify ‘one off’ and on-going opportunities for commercial enhancements.
• Work as a contact for queries within my category from internal and external sources and responding to these in a timely manner.
• Define lifecycle management strategy and optimum route-to-market for each channel by supplier/category, in conjunction with the Category Manager, and be responsible for delivering agreed actions.
• To work collaboratively and develop relationships across multiple functions and business units to lead commercial projects / initiatives for my category and deliver agreed objectives.
• Work with the Category Manager to drive a continuous improvement agenda with suppliers and colleagues to continually improve H&S performance, awareness and product/packaging safety.

Is this you?

• A strong background in Category or Product experience
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills along with a strong commercial mind and an instinct for a deal.
• You’ll be working closely with our suppliers, branches and sales teams, so we’ll need you to utilise your great communication skills and ability to influence.
• We’re looking for someone to show passion and ambition to ensure we are getting the best deals for our customers, always.
• Ideally have a background in Timber or in the Joinery industry

What’s in it for you?

You’ll be supported by some fantastic training and development and have the opportunity to learn, grow and develop across the Travis Perkins Group.

We’ll also equip you with a benefits package that grows as you grow with the company:

• Save-as-you-earn scheme
• Buy-as-you-earn scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Colleague discount across a variety of Group businesses

A Bit About Us

As the largest distributor of building materials in the UK, Travis Perkins has been helping to build Britain for over 200 years.

With over 5 businesses, 16,000 colleagues and more than 1,200 branches, stores and sites around the UK we believe we have the best people and the best place to work. Everyone works hard together to deliver results, but most importantly, have some fun along the way!

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