Category Assistant

Holland & Barrett; Nuneaton; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A health and wellness retailer in the United Kingdom is seeking a Category Assistant for a maternity cover role. This position requires excellent organizational skills and advanced Excel competencies to manage promotions, prepare sales reports, and maintain product information. The ideal candidate should have a proactive approach and previous experience in retail or administrative environments. This role offers a 25% employee discount and various benefits.

Benefits

H&B Employee Discount - 25%

Pension company contribution

Exclusive benefits from retailers and providers

Qualifications

• Strong organisational skills are essential for managing multiple tasks.
• Advanced Excel skills, including VLOOKUPs and pivot tables, are required.
• Previous experience in retail or administrative roles is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Manage the promotional process and ensure deadlines are met.
• Produce sales reports for performance analysis.
• Prepare for range reviews by gathering data from suppliers.
• Maintain accurate product information and pricing.
• Monitor competitor activity and share insights.
• Handle invoicing and resolve supplier queries.
• Organise meetings and manage follow-up actions.
• Provide general administrative support.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Advanced Excel skills

Clear communication skills

Proactive approach

Job description

The Role

This is a maternity cover role (12 Months). If you're someone who likes being the person that keeps everything running smoothly, this could be the role for you.

Buying teams don't just need big ideas - they need someone who can make sure the details are right, deadlines are met, and processes don't fall apart. That's where you come in.

Our Vitamins & Minerals team plays a big role in what we do at Holland & Barrett. We need a Category Assistant who can take care of the detail that keeps our ranges and promotions on track during this maternity cover period.

What You’ll Actually Be Doing

• Managing the promotional process - chasing suppliers for information, updating systems, and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Producing regular sales reports to help the team analyse performance and identify improvements.
• Preparing for range reviews, including gathering data and samples from suppliers.
• Maintaining accurate product information, pricing, and supplier details.
• Monitoring competitor activity and sharing insights with the team.
• Handling invoicing and resolving supplier queries promptly.
• Organising meetings, travel, and supplier events, and managing follow-up actions.
• Providing general administrative support to keep processes running smoothly.

How We’ll Know You’re Delivering

• Promotions go live on time without errors.
• Reports are accurate and help the team make better decisions.
• Suppliers aren’t chasing us for unpaid invoices.
• The category managers can focus on strategy because you’ve taken care of the detail.

The Person

What You’ll Need To Bring

• Excellent attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
• Advanced Excel skills – you’ll be using VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, and other functions regularly.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Clear and confident communication skills for working with suppliers and internal teams.
• A proactive approach and willingness to adapt to change.
• Previous experience in retail or an office‑based administrative role would be an advantage.
• A full driving licence, as you may need to visit stores, suppliers, or trade shows.

What We Offer

Our Benefits

• H&B Employee Discount - 25%
• Pension company contribution
• Exclusive benefits, free advice and savings from a range of retailers and providers
• And many more!