Category Manager – Servicing & MOT

Halfords; Redditch; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK retailer is looking for a Category Manager for Servicing & MOT in Redditch. The role involves driving sales and profit while managing supplier relationships. The ideal candidate will have strong commercial acumen and experience in category management. A hybrid working model is offered, allowing flexibility with office and home work. Competitive salary, car allowance, and professional development opportunities are included.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual discretionary bonus

Pension and life assurance

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in Category Management or Buying.
• Ability to lead and mentor team members.
• Experience in managing complex supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Drive sales and maximize gross margin.
• Analyze market trends and negotiate supplier agreements.
• Design and implement promotional campaigns.

Skills

Strong commercial acumen

Skilled negotiator

Strong analytical skills

Customer-focused

Confident in engaging leadership

Job description

About us

Halfords is the UK’s leading provider of motoring and cycling products and services. Our mission is to inspire and support a lifetime of motoring and cycling. As a specialist retailer, we lead the market through customer-driven innovation and a distinctive product range. We’re committed to delivering an integrated, convenient service experience - from e-bike and electric vehicle servicing to on-demand solutions. At Halfords, we strive to build lasting customer loyalty by offering compelling reasons to return, ensuring every journey is enjoyable for years to come.

About the role

Join Halfords as a Category Manager for Servicing & MOT and take ownership of one of our most critical categories. You’ll be responsible for driving sales, maximising gross margin, and delivering a market-leading offer that keeps customers coming back. From pricing strategy and promotional campaigns to range reviews and brand selection, you’ll use every lever to grow performance and strengthen our competitive edge.

This is your chance to combine commercial acumen with customer insight. You’ll analyse market trends, identify growth opportunities, and negotiate supplier agreements to ensure we deliver quality, value, and innovation. If you’re ready to make a measurable impact and help shape the future of motoring services, we want to hear from you.

Key responsibilities

• Put the customer at the heart of every decision, working closely with marketing, customer and digital teams to deliver the best experience.
• Gain a deep understanding of each sub-product group, including market size, trends, competition, and growth opportunities.
• Contribute to building a category plan that captures market insights and identifies opportunities to increase sales, profit, and market share.
• Act on customer feedback to keep our offer competitive and compelling.
• Define brand selection strategy and manage range reviews to ensure products and services perform to expectations.
• Design and implement impactful promotional campaigns in collaboration with marketing and channel teams.
• Develop pricing strategies that maximise gross margin and optimise price elasticity through regular benchmarking.
• Identify and launch new products and services relevant to the category.
• Negotiate supplier agreements, ensuring compliance with ESG, CSR, and ethical trading standards while securing the best cost prices.
• Monitor supplier performance, manage rebates, and take proactive steps to maximise returns.

About you

• Strong commercial acumen with a track record of driving profitability.
• Previous experience in Category Management or Buying.
• Skilled negotiator with experience managing complex supplier relationships.
• Customer-focused and skilled at identifying and responding to customer needs.
• Confident in engaging and influencing senior leadership teams.
• Ability to lead, coach, and mentor a direct report effectively.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make fact-based decisions.
• Industry experience is not essential, but retail or automotive (or similar) is advantageous.

Reward & benefits

• A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, car allowance, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave.
• Commitment and dedication to your ongoing personal and professional development. We help you to own and grow your potential so you can be at your best in your current role and to support your future career aspirations.
• We offer hybrid working in our Support Centre, you will be based at our Support Centre 3 days a week with an optional 2 days working from home.
• You will have access to a wealth of employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services.
• Wellbeing and inclusion are at the heart of our colleague experience. We offer resources and ongoing support to enhance your wellbeing at work and active Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives across Halfords.

Not sure you meet all the criteria? We'd encourage you to take the wheel and apply anyway! At Halfords we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. We're an equal opportunities employer and proud to welcome applications from all backgrounds and embrace diversity within our one Halfords Family.

At Halfords, we operate a hybrid working policy with 3 days on site at our Support Centre in Redditch, Worcestershire.