Category Manager (Retail)

Network Rail; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible/hybrid working arrangements

28 days annual leave

Discounts at stations with NR pass

Defined benefit pension scheme

75% subsidy on train tickets

Interest-free travel loan

Volunteer leave

Job summary

Network Rail is recruiting a Category Manager to shape the retail offer across our network stations. You will develop category strategies, analyse performance and trends, and work with partners to maximise sales and improve customer experience.

Collaboration with Retail Business Partners and Surveyors is key as you balance commercial growth with passenger satisfaction. We seek a commercially minded professional with extensive retail management experience, able to influence decisions and develop

Qualifications

• Essential criteria include a degree level in business or equivalent retail background.
• Extensive experience in a retail management role.
• Significant experience in Food & Beverage or Retail industry relevant to vacancy.

Responsibilities

• Shape the retail offer across stations and develop category strategies.
• Analyse performance and market trends to identify opportunities.
• Build relationships with partners and manage openings and renewals.
• Drive revenue growth while ensuring the right mix of retail options for passengers.

Skills

Retail management experience

Stakeholder management

Negotiation skills

Commercial awareness

Data and market insight

Education

Degree in business or retail background

Job description

Vacancy Details

Duration: Secondment or Fixed Term Contract of 2 years with the potential to extend or go permanent. (Please note, secondments are subject to line manager approval, please discuss this with them before applying).

Salary: £55,596 - £67,813

Who We Are

Join Network Rail ! Where People and Connections Matter At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team- you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process. Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.

Some Of Our Great Benefits

• Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered.
• Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days.
• Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass.
• Defined benefit pension scheme
• 75% subsidy on train tickets.
• Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets.
• Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.

Plus more....

About The Role

As a Category Manager, you'll shape the retail offer across our stations, combining industry expertise, commercial insight and great relationship management to deliver the right brands and experiences for our customers. You'll develop category strategies, analyse performance and market trends, identify new opportunities and work with Retail Business Partners, Surveyors and fellow Category Managers to maximise sales and income. You'll also build relationships with leading retail and food & beverage partners, supporting them across everything from new openings and lease renewals to operational and commercial challenges. If you love retail, enjoy working with people and thrive on variety and constant change, this is a role where no two days are the same.

A Little Bit About The Team...

You’ll be part of the wider Retail team within Network Rail’s Property function, working alongside Category Managers, Retail Business Partners, Surveyors and key stakeholders across the business. The team combines commercial expertise, customer insight and industry knowledge to shape the retail experience across Network Rail’s managed stations. Collaboration is a key part of the role, with colleagues working together to develop strategies that drive revenue growth while ensuring stations offer the right mix of retail, food and beverage options for passengers.

Next Steps

CV shortlisting will take place after the advert closes, with interviews planned from the week commencing 1st December, subject to business needs. Early applications are encouraged, as we may close the advert early due to high application volumes.

We encourage you to review our Safety Vision, as safety is an important part of the culture at Network Rail

All external offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Your experience and skills

Who are we looking for?

We're looking for a commercially minded retail professional with extensive experience in a category management, retail operations or commercial management environment. You’ll bring strong industry knowledge and understand what drives customer behaviour, retail performance and commercial growth. You’ll be confident using data and market insight to make recommendations while balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders. Experience gained within large-scale, multi-site retail environments will be particularly valuable, as will an ability to influence decisions and develop strategic solutions that improve both commercial outcomes and customer experience. Rail industry experience is not essential. We welcome candidates from a range of retail, hospitality, transport and consumer-facing sectors.

Essential Criteria

• ¿ Educated to degree level in business or equivalent retail background
• ¿ Proven extensive experience in a retail management role.
• ¿ Significant experience and in-depth knowledge of the Food and Beverage or Retail industry (dependant on vacancy)
• ¿ Evidence of meeting profit targets within a competitive environment
• ¿ Knowledge of retail operations, merchandising and store development
• ¿ Experience Of Managing External Clients And Stakeholders
• ¿ Strong interpersonal and good negotiation skills.

Desirable

• ¿ Experience Of The Retail Property Market
• ¿ Specific product development experience
• ¿ Travel retail experience from either airport or transport hubs