CATEGORY SUPPORT ASSISTANT (BEDDING )

TN United Kingdom; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in the bedding and soft furnishings sector is seeking a proactive Product Category Assistant to support their Dunelm Account. This role involves managing product categories, liaising with suppliers, and ensuring compliance with critical paths. The ideal candidate will have strong Excel skills and experience in product management within the import and distribution industry. Join a dynamic team where your contributions will directly impact product development and supplier relationships, driving success in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in product category management within the import supply chain.
• Strong Excel skills and experience with SAP/ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of the product category from start to finish.
• Negotiate costs and manage supplier quotations.

Skills

Product Management

Excel

Negotiation Skills

Communication

Organizational Skills

Education

Experience in Import & Distribution

Knowledge of Product Life Cycles

Tools

SAP/ERP

Product Information Systems

Job description

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Client:

House of Fashion Associates Ltd

Location:

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

ce1770c375b1

Job Views:

7

Posted:

05.05.2025

Expiry Date:

19.06.2025

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Job Description:

PRODUCT CATEGORY ASSISTANT (DUNELM ACCOUNT) IMPORT & DISTRIBUTION

UP TO £28K doe

NORTH MANCHESTER

Our client, a successful bedding / soft furnishing company based in North Manchester, supplies products to a high street retailer and is seeking an experienced Category Assistant to support senior management on their Dunelm Account.

The ideal candidate will have experience in product management within the import and distribution industry, strong Excel skills, and familiarity with the critical path, liaising & negotiating with overseas suppliers, and SAP/ERP systems.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Manage all aspects of a product category, supporting the commercial team and reporting to the Senior Commercial Manager & Commercial Director.

CORE COMPETENCIES for the ROLE

• DECISION MAKING: Ability to make independent decisions and accept responsibility; strong organizational skills.
• LEADERSHIP: Lead category meetings with customers.
• TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT: Participate in development activities for personal growth.
• TECHNICAL & COMPLIANCE: Experience with Microsoft Excel, product information systems, SAP/ERP, and numerical data entry.
• COMMUNICATION: Excellent verbal and written communication with suppliers, customers, and internal teams; effective negotiation skills.
• PLANNING: Prioritize tasks, manage workload, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

THE POSITION

The candidate will be proactive, detail-oriented, and customer-focused. Knowledge of product life cycles, critical paths, and meeting deadlines is essential. Building positive relationships with suppliers, colleagues, and stakeholders is key.

DUTIES:

• Manage all aspects of the product category from start to finish.
• Review and circulate Seasonal Development Requirements with suppliers.
• Conduct gap analysis against competitors and customer needs.
• Update target matrices and manage supplier quotations and product details.
• Negotiate costs, transfer product information, and set up SKUs on internal and customer systems.
• Coordinate samples, manage product critical paths, and update cost and stock details.
• Ensure compliance with policies and participate in training for development.
• Perform other reasonable tasks as assigned.

THE CANDIDATE

• Experience in product category management within the import supply chain industry.
• Knowledge of the critical path and liaising with overseas suppliers.
• Excellent Excel skills, SAP/ERP experience.
• Product development experience is advantageous.
• Experience with textiles, bedding, or soft furnishings is highly desirable.
• Experience working with high street retailers in account management or merchandising roles.