Category Manager

Mixxos Group; Houghton Regis; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Mixxos Group, a growing sports equipment company, is seeking a commercially minded Category Manager to own product strategy and performance across own-brand and licensed ranges, working with design, sourcing, marketing and e-commerce to drive category growth.

The role involves managing licensing relationships, developing on-brand product ranges with factories, analyzing sales and margins, and steering category reviews from concept to launch.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Category Manager or similar commercial role.
• Experience managing licensed product ranges or brand partnerships.
• Strong commercial acumen, including cost, margin and pricing analysis.
• Excellent stakeholder management with internal and external partners.
• Comfortable working with e-commerce platforms such as Shopify.
• An interest in sport and sports merchandise is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own the product roadmap and category strategy for allocated categories, from concept through to launch.
• Manage relationships with licensing partners (sports clubs, leagues, and entertainment brands) to develop compliant, on-brand product ranges.
• Work closely with design and sourcing teams to develop new products and improve existing ranges.
• Analyse sales performance, margin and market trends to inform category strategy and identify growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with the e-commerce team to ensure categories are effectively represented and merchandised online.
• Manage product lifecycle across the category, including range reviews, discontinuations, and new product introductions.
• Prepare and present concepts, mock-ups and category performance decks for internal sign-off, licensor approval and key retailer presentations.
• Work directly with factories on product specifications, technical drawings, pre-production and gold seal samples, and packaging proofs.

Skills

Category management experience

Licensing management

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

E-commerce familiarity

Shopify expertise

Tools

Shopify

Product data management

Job description

Category Manager

Salary: £40,000 - £45,000

Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9:00am - 5:30pm, early finish Friday at 4:00pm

Bedfordshire

Permanent, Office Based

We are recruiting on behalf of a well-established and growing sports equipment company, designing and supplying a broad range of own-brand training equipment alongside officially licensed merchandise for major football clubs, national teams, and global entertainment brands. This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially astute Category Manager to take ownership of product strategy and performance across own-brand and licensed ranges, working closely with design, sourcing, marketing, and e-commerce teams to drive category growth and profitability.

The successful candidate will be commercially minded, highly organised, and confident managing licensing relationships alongside product development and category performance, within a fast-paced, growing consumer goods business.

Key Responsibilities for a Category Manager:

• Own the product roadmap and category strategy for allocated categories, from concept through to launch
• Manage relationships with licensing partners (sports clubs, leagues, and entertainment brands) to develop compliant, on-brand product ranges
• Work closely with design and sourcing teams to develop new products and improve existing ranges
• Analyse sales performance, margin and market trends to inform category strategy and identify growth opportunities
• Collaborate with the e-commerce team to ensure categories are effectively represented and merchandised online
• Manage product lifecycle across the category, including range reviews, discontinuations, and new product introductions
• Prepare and present concepts, mock-ups and category performance decks for internal sign-off, licensor approval and key retailer presentations
• Work directly with factories on product specifications, technical drawings, pre-production and gold seal samples, and packaging proofs

Key Skills for a Category Manager:

• Proven experience in a Category Manager, Product Manager, or similar commercial/product role, ideally within retail, e-commerce, or FMCG/consumer goods
• Experience managing licensed product ranges or brand partnerships is highly desirable
• Strong commercial acumen, including product costing, margin management and pricing, with confidence interpreting sales and performance data
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, able to work confidently with internal teams and external partners
• Comfortable working with e-commerce platforms (e.g. Shopify) and product data
• A genuine interest in sport and sports merchandise would be an advantage