Assistant Category Manager

RS Group plc; Stockport; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Assistant Category Manager to kickstart a career in Category Management. This hybrid role involves supporting product portfolio development, managing lifecycle stages, and providing insights through data analysis. The ideal candidate will possess strong Excel skills, a collaborative spirit, and a growth mindset. Join a diverse team that values innovation and inclusivity, and contribute to a company that delivers solutions globally. This is a fantastic opportunity for those eager to learn and make a positive impact.

Qualifications

• Experience with Excel and data reporting is essential.
• Strong analytical skills with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Support category strategies and business plans.
• Manage product lifecycle from introduction to discontinuation.

Skills

Excel Reporting

Data Analysis

Communication Skills

Administrative Skills

Team Collaboration

Attention to Detail

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Assistant Category Manager

Corby, Northants or Manchester (Hybrid working)

Are you looking for a step onto the career ladder within Category Management? RS is a fantastic place to begin. If you have experience with Excel reporting, enjoy working with data, and thrive in teamwork and people skills, this could be the opportunity for you.

We will provide training and development, so if you do not have all the qualifications listed, it's not essential. A positive attitude, the right behaviors, and a growth mindset are all crucial.

What You Will Be Doing

1. The role is a key development position within the RS Product & Supplier Management organization, working closely with the extended functions to execute the commercial strategy by managing our product and supplier base.
2. Supporting the development of the category’s product portfolio throughout its lifecycle, using data to guide decisions, executing product launches, optimizing performance, and managing end-of-life stages.
3. Responsibilities include:
4. Supporting the development and execution of category strategies and business plans.
5. Providing digital reports and market insights to inform technology and supplier strategies and identify range opportunities.
6. Managing product and range lifecycle, from introduction to discontinuation.
7. Maintaining product and price files, including cost management.
8. Ensuring data accuracy (e.g., supplier contacts, meeting notes, contractual terms, market share).
9. Tracking supplier value extraction, including marketing funding, rebates, and payment terms.
10. Supporting the achievement of category KPIs such as revenue, margin, ROI, customer acquisition, product sales, new product revenue, supplier investment, inventory health, private label share, and influencing customer satisfaction scores.

What We Are Looking For

• Strong administrative skills and proficiency in MS Office.
• Confident Excel skills, comfortable with reporting and data manipulation (e.g., Lookups, PivotTables).
• Good analytical skills with attention to detail and ability to spot anomalies.
• Effective communication skills across all levels of the business.
• A collaborative team player with a positive, results-oriented attitude.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently.
• A growth mindset and willingness to learn and develop.

About RS Group

With over 80 years of experience, RS Group has been solving engineering problems big and small. Our purpose is to make amazing happen for a better world.

We provide a wide range of service and product solutions, delivering parcels every 2 seconds to over 135 countries, with over 800,000 in-stock and 3 million unstocked products to more than 1.2 million customers.

We value curiosity, innovation, empathy, and inclusivity. We invest in your development and wellbeing, fostering a diverse, ethical, and responsible culture aligned with our ESG commitments.

Join over 9,000 employees worldwide and be part of a team that encourages you to think big, do more, and unleash your brilliance.

Are you ready to explore the possibilities?