Category Manager

RS Group plc; Corby; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Category Manager for a 12-month FTC in Corby. This role focuses on developing category strategies and managing supplier relationships to drive growth across EMEA. The ideal candidate will possess strong commercial acumen and excellent stakeholder management skills. Join a dynamic team dedicated to delivering exceptional product solutions and achieving significant KPIs.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial acumen in a business environment.
• Supplier relationship management experience.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Strategy planning and execution for the category/technology.
• Supplier relationship management to support growth plans.
• Delivery of KPIs such as growth, revenue, margin, ROI.

Skills

Commercial Acumen

Stakeholder Management

Analytical Skills

Team Player

Influencing Skills

Tools

Excel

PowerBI

Adobe Analytics

Job description

12 Month FTC

Location: Corby (Hybrid)

About The Role

The Category Manager role is a key position within the EMEA Product & Supplier Management organisation. It is responsible for developing the category strategy and working with group, regional, and local stakeholders to execute growth plans, delivering targeted profitable growth, customer acquisition, and ROI.

The manager will be instrumental in delivering a best-in-class product offer by defining market-leading brands, latest products, and technologies to drive growth across EMEA. They will also manage the supplier and product portfolio, including the end-to-end product lifecycle.

Managing a portfolio of key suppliers, they are accountable for supplier management, negotiating contracts and terms, and building collaborative relationships to support growth.

Responsibilities And Deliverables

• Strategy planning, governance, and execution for the category/technology
• Development & execution of supplier business plans to realize the category strategy
• Using digital data and insights to inform decisions and drive performance
• Supplier relationship management to support growth plans
• Negotiations to maximize profit
• Cost management and price maintenance
• Portfolio development including NPI and product lifecycle management
• Communication and collaboration with stakeholders
• Developing a customer-aligned category offer
• Introducing new brands and managing product lifecycle
• Delivery of KPIs such as growth, revenue, margin, ROI, customer metrics, and digital performance
• Building strong relationships with suppliers and internal teams

Experience We Are Looking For

• Strong commercial acumen in a business environment
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Analytical skills with large datasets
• Supplier relationship management experience
• Proficiency with data analytics and digital tools (e.g., Excel, PowerBI, Adobe Analytics)
• Team player with a positive attitude
• Influencing skills and operational problem-solving capabilities

About RS Group

RS has been solving engineering problems for over 80 years, turning challenges into opportunities. Our purpose is to make amazing happen for a better world.

We deliver service and product solutions globally, with a wide range of stock and non-stock products, serving over 1.2 million customers in over 130 countries.

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

Join over 9000 employees worldwide to think big, do more, and unleash your brilliance.