Category Controller

White Recruitment; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical

Pension

Life Assurance

30 days' holiday + buy option

Onsite parking

Job summary

White Recruitment in York is seeking an experienced Category Controller to lead a high-impact category function within a large multinational business. You will own category strategy, build powerful supplier partnerships and deliver meaningful commercial growth.

You’ll lead a team of Category Managers and Category Assistants, driving trading performance, profitability and strategic change, while collaborating with senior stakeholders and Finance to turn insights into action.

Qualifications

• Experience leading category/trading teams in food retail or FMCG.
• Proven ability to own P&L, budgets and targets.
• Strong supplier relationships and category strategy development.
• Analytical mindset with data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Own P&L performance, budgets and targets.
• Develop customer-focused category and sales strategies.
• Build supplier relationships and lead trading team.
• Drive margin, profitability and operational efficiency.
• Use data and NPS to shape decisions.
• Oversee supply chain performance, wastage, compliance and food safety.
• Turn commercial insight into action with Finance.
• Deliver strategic change and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Negotiation

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Job description

Category Controller (485546) York, England

Salary: GBP80000 - GBP90000 per annum + Benefits package

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

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

Category Controller (485546) York, England

Thank you for submitting your application.