Buying Category Manager - Home And Garden

DarcyBrook; Bedford; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in Bedford is seeking a proactive Buying Category Manager to oversee the product lifecycle and drive commercial success. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in strategic buying and category management, along with exceptional supplier relationship management skills. This role demands strong communication and organizational abilities, with a focus on maximizing sales and enhancing product offerings.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in Product Leadership, Strategic Buying, or Category Management.
• Experience with FOB procurement and global supply partner relationships.
• History of exceeding performance targets.

Responsibilities

• Direct product lifecycle management from sourcing to sales performance.
• Develop strategic product ranges for diverse customer demographics.
• Cultivate partnerships with suppliers and cross-functional teams.
• Utilize metrics and trends for strategic decision-making.
• Control project milestones and product launch planning.
• Identify opportunities for process enhancement and expansion.

Skills

Global sourcing expertise

Commercial insight

Communication and influencing

Organizational skills

Job description

Are you a results-driven Buying Category Manager ready to own the commercial success and strategic direction of a key product portfolio? We are seeking an entrepreneurial Buyer who can seamlessly blend global sourcing expertise with keen commercial insight to maximise sales and elevate our product offering.

The Role

In this influential role, you will hold complete accountability for the product lifecycle, acting as the commercial compass for your category.

Key responsibilities include:

• Directing the comprehensive product life cycle, spanning initial global sourcing and development through to rigorous analysis of final sales performance and execution.
• Developing strategic ranges using a sophisticated tiered product hierarchy (value, standard, premium) to effectively address a broad customer demographic.
• Cultivating and maintaining impactful partnerships with a diverse set of external suppliers and internal collaborators, including retail operations and cross-functional teams.
• Utilising performance metrics and market trend analysis to inform strategic choices, optimise inventory, and capture maximum revenue.
• Controlling and enforcing crucial project milestones, product sign-off procedures, and effective launch and exit planning.
• Adopting an innovative and proactive approach, consistently identifying new avenues for process enhancement and category expansion.

Qualifications

We need a proactive, hands‑on person who is comfortable navigating complex supply chains and commercial challenges:

• Significant and demonstrable professional track record in a Product Leadership, Strategic Buying, or Category Management capacity.
• Essential practical experience with Free On Board (FOB) procurement and managing relationships with global supply partners, particularly those based in Asian manufacturing hubs.
• Exceptional commercial awareness and a consistent history of over-achieving performance targets.
• Superior communication and influencing abilities, essential for successfully leading multiple stakeholder relationships across different business functions.
• Highly organised and self-starting, with the resilience to excel in a high-velocity, commercially focused environment.