Category Controller

WR Logistics; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite parking

Private medical cover

Pension

Life assurance

22 days annual leave (option to buy/24

Job summary

WR Logistics is seeking a Category Controller to lead a high-impact trading function within a large, family-owned multinational group. You will shape category strategy, build powerful supplier partnerships and drive meaningful commercial growth across key product categories.

You will manage a team of Category Managers and Category Assistants, own P&L performance, budgets and targets, and collaborate with Finance and senior stakeholders to turn insights into action and drive continuous

Qualifications

• Significant experience in food retail, FMCG, buying or trading.
• Strong track record of influencing senior stakeholders, negotiating commercially, interpreting data and delivering business improvement.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A passion for developing people and building high-performing teams.
• Proven leadership experience within a complex trading environment.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Owning P&L performance, budgets and commercial targets
• Developing customer-focused category and sales strategies
• Building and leveraging strong supplier relationships
• Leading, coaching and developing a high-performing trading team
• Driving margin, profitability and operational efficiency
• Using data, customer insight and NPS to shape decisions
• Overseeing supply chain performance, wastage, compliance and food safety
• Working with Finance to turn commercial insight into action
• Delivering strategic change and continuous improvement

Job description

Category Controller

Competitive salary | Private Medical | Pension | Life Assurance | 30 days' holiday including bank holidays + option to buy more | Onsite parking

Are you an experienced Category Controller, Trading Manager or Senior Commercial professional ready to take ownership of a high-impact category function?

Join a large, successful, family-owned multinational business where you'll have the opportunity to shape category strategy, build powerful supplier partnerships and deliver meaningful commercial growth.

The opportunity

You'll lead and develop a talented team of Category Managers and Category Assistants, taking ownership of trading performance, profitability and category strategy. Working closely with senior stakeholders, Finance and suppliers, you'll identify opportunities to improve performance, maximise margin and create a genuine competitive advantage.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Owning P&L performance, budgets and commercial targets
• Developing customer-focused category and sales strategies
• Building and leveraging strong supplier relationships
• Leading, coaching and developing a high-performing trading team
• Driving margin, profitability and operational efficiency
• Using data, customer insight and NPS to shape decisions
• Overseeing supply chain performance, wastage, compliance and food safety
• Working with Finance to turn commercial insight into action
• Delivering strategic change and continuous improvement

What you’ll bring

We're looking for a commercially astute leader with significant experience in food retail, FMCG, buying or trading. You'll have a strong track record of influencing senior stakeholders, negotiating commercially, interpreting data and delivering business improvement.

You’ll also bring:

• Proven leadership experience within a complex trading environment
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills
• Excellent understanding of merchandising, profitability and supply chain
• Strategic thinking and a genuine appetite for driving change
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• A passion for developing people and building high-performing teams

Why join?

This is an opportunity to join a well-established, growing international organisation with a diverse portfolio of businesses and a significant presence across the UK and internationally.

You'll enjoy real commercial ownership, senior-level exposure, career development opportunities and the chance to make a visible difference in a fast-moving trading environment.

Benefits include

• Competitive salary
• pension
• private medical cover
• life assurance
• 22 days' annual leave with the option to purchase additional days
• onsite parking