Category Manager

Hirecracker®; England; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm in the UK is seeking an experienced Category Manager to take ownership of a product category in the building and construction sector. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in Category Management, strong commercial acumen, and superb relationship management skills. This role offers a competitive salary of £50,000 to £55,000, annual bonuses, and opportunities for personal development. A hybrid working model is available to promote work-life balance.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual performance-related bonus

Supportive environment for personal development

Opportunities for ongoing development and progression

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Category Management within building or construction sectors.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to drive category performance.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop product categories to achieve strategic objectives.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers for growth.
• Identify new product and supplier opportunities.

Skills

Category Management

Supplier Management

Negotiation

Data Analysis

Stakeholder Engagement

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Category Manager

Salary : Competitive salary DOE + Bonus, Car Allowance & Benefits

Location : Leicester (hybrid & flexible working available)

Employment : Full Time, Permanent

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Category Manager to join a well-established organisation operating within the building and construction products sector. Working as part of a collaborative Trading function, you will play a key role in shaping category strategy, developing supplier relationships, and driving commercial growth across a diverse portfolio.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded category professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys influencing stakeholders, building strong industry relationships, and using data-led insights to deliver meaningful results.

The Role

As Category Manager, you will take full ownership of a defined product category, responsible for commercial performance, supplier development, and strategic planning. You will identify new supplier and product opportunities, negotiate commercial terms, and ensure category KPIs are consistently achieved.

This role would suit someone with strong experience in building materials, construction, interiors, or adjacent product categories, who brings a blend of relationship management, commercial acumen, and analytical capability.

Category Manager Responsibilities

• Manage and develop product categories in line with strategic objectives
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to drive growth and commercial performance
• Identify new product and supplier opportunities to support business expansion
• Influence suppliers to adopt digital tools and improved processes to increase efficiency
• Coordinate and lead category meetings, updates, and reporting
• Attend relevant industry events to build networks and represent the business
• Produce accurate management reports and ensure category KPIs are met
• Work closely with internal teams to support wider commercial strategy

Category Manager Requirements

• Significant experience in Category Management within the building, construction, interiors, timber, HVAC or related product sectors
• Strong commercial acumen with proven ability to drive category performance
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills
• Strong analytical capability with confidence in Excel (pivot tables essential); experience with Power BI / PHOCAS is a bonus
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with both suppliers and internal stakeholders
• Confident communicator with strong presentation skills
• Highly organised, proactive, and able to operate independently when required

Category Manager Benefits

• Competitive salary £50,000 – £55,000 (dependent on experience)
• Annual performance-related bonus
• Full ownership of a high-impact product category with the autonomy to influence strategy
• Opportunity to work with major suppliers across the UK and build a strong industry network
• A highly supportive environment with strong investment in personal development
• Opportunities for ongoing development and progression

To Be Considered

Please either apply by clicking online or emailing me directly at [e-mail]. For further information, please call 01244 739 301 or 07736 920 086. By applying for this role, you give express consent for us to process and submit your application to our client for this vacancy only.

Key Skills : Category Manager, Category Lead, Senior Buyer, Supplier Management, Negotiation, Building Materials, Construction Products, Timber, HVAC, Interiors, Data Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Trading, Hirecracker, HCOperations