Category Manager, RS Pro

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

Job summary

A leading engineering solutions provider is seeking a Category Manager based in Manchester, UK. In this role, you will develop and execute the Own Brand strategy, conduct supplier reviews, and ensure the product range aligns with customer needs. The ideal candidate should possess strong analytical skills, experience in category management, and a proven ability to negotiate win-win outcomes. Join us to help deliver innovative solutions and drive profitable growth.

Qualifications

• Category Management experience (Own-Brand experience preferred).
• Experience managing suppliers and negotiating outcomes.
• Understanding of product lifecycle and new product introduction.
• Product range knowledge within Industrial Automation, Facilities Maintenance, or Electronics.

Responsibilities

• Deliver RS PRO NPI Road Map, strategies, and business plans.
• Conduct supplier range reviews and grow market share.
• Ensure product range meets customer needs.
• Deliver growth by supplier and product segment.
• Manage product lifecycle effectively.

Skills

Category Management experience

Supplier management

Strong commercial acumen

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Product range knowledge

Negotiation skills

Experience with online trading

Operational problem-solving

Job description

Category Manager

Available Locations (Hybrid) : UK (London, Corby, Manchester), Germany (Frankfurt), Italy (Milan), Latvia (Riga)

The RS Pro team have an opening for a Category Manager!

The Category Manager develops and executes the Own Brand strategy for their aligned product technologies through product knowledge, sourcing, negotiation, bringing the goods to market, reporting and end of life range decisions.

You’ll be working in close collaboration with the RS PRO team in Compliance, Quality, Ethical Sourcing and Sustainability, the global sourcing team, the local regional stakeholders and the data team – ensuring to deliver profitable growth, accelerated customer acquisition and superior ROI.

With a mandate covering RS the role operates internationally across EMEA and APAC regions as well as globally in conjunction with strategic supplier relationships.

What you will be doing :

• Delivering the RS PRO NPI Road Map, strategies and business plans
• Conducting supplier range reviews and engagement to maximise growth
• Ensuring the product range is fully aligned to customer needs
• Delivering product range growth by supplier and product segment
• Effective lifecycle management
• Effective use of Data insights to maximise customer penetration

Deliver KPIs for managed suppliers and technologies :

Revenue

Margin Return on Investment Customer acquisition Number of products sold

New product introduction revenue

Inventory health Own Brand (RS Pro) share of category

Influencing NES and NPS scores

What we are looking for from you, in order to be successful in this role :

• Category Management experience (Own-Brand experience would be an advantage)
• Prior experience managing suppliers, and negotiating win-win outcomes
• An understanding of product lifecycle and new product introduction, preferably in own brand.
• Product range knowledge within Industrial Automation, Facilities Maintenance or Electronics
• Strong commercial acumen, including interpreting and understanding large data-sets
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Strong analytical skillset and strong attention to detail
• Experience of online trading and digital tools
• A collaborative team player
• Positive can-do attitude, takes ownership and results oriented
• Strong influencing skills and ability to negotiate with suppliers.
• Operational problem solver and good process management capability
• Experience working with leading suppliers / brands
• Experience of working in a matrix and cross-cultural environment
• Experience of working with an online digital toolset
• Experience of working in a Commercial environment

We are RS Group :

At RS we’ve been solving engineering problems for over 80 years : big ones, small ones, easy and difficult ones. We turn the ‘what ifs’ into the ‘why nots’, the impossible into the possible.

Our purpose? Making amazing happen for a better world.

We offer service and product solutions. We send out a parcel every 2 seconds, to over 130 countries. We provide over 700,000 in-stock and over 3 million unstocked products to more than 1.2 million customers.

We want people like you, as you are curious about things, you like doing things differently and also in a human way with empathy. Because that’s exactly how we partner with people – our customers, suppliers, colleagues and communities – to solve problems.

We’ll also invest in your development and wellbeing – because building a more diverse and inclusive culture, being ethical, responsible and committed to our Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) action plan is at the heart of everything we do.

Come and join us and over 9000 employees worldwide – and we’ll help you to think big, do more and unleash your brilliance, so you do amazing things too.

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