Head of Category Management | Strategy, Growth & Impact

Harbourne Associates Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

10% bonus opportunity

Car allowance

Private healthcare

Long-term career growth

Job summary

Harbourne Associates Ltd is supporting a well-established international retail and consumer business with a Senior Category Leadership Opportunity. As Head of Category Management, you will own the category function, drive performance across multiple product areas and markets, and lead a team of category professionals in a fast-paced, multi-brand environment.

You'll work with senior leadership to align strategies, strengthen supplier relationships, and implement new ways of working to deliver

Qualifications

• Significant experience within Category Management, Buying, Merchandising or Commercial Leadership.
• Experience leading and developing managers and wider commercial teams.
• Strong retail, FMCG, consumer goods or multi-brand background.
• Proven experience managing supplier relationships and commercial negotiations.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to identify growth opportunities.
• Experience working within fast-paced, matrix-style organisations.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• A proactive, resilient and solutions-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing category management team.
• Define and implement category strategies across multiple product areas.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and commercial partners.
• Identify new opportunities for growth, innovation and market expansion.
• Review product performance and drive continual improvement across the portfolio.
• Improve cross-functional collaboration across commercial, marketing and operational teams.
• Drive greater consistency, pace and accountability across the category function.
• Influence senior stakeholders and contribute to wider business strategy.
• Lead commercial negotiations and supplier discussions.
• Ensure effective planning, forecasting and delivery against commercial objectives.

Skills

Category management

Commercial leadership

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Supplier relationships

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

Job description

Harbourne Associates Ltd is supporting a well-established international retail and consumer business with a Senior Category Leadership Opportunity. As Head of Category Management, you will own the category function, drive performance across multiple product areas and markets, and lead a team of category professionals in a fast-paced, multi-brand environment.

You'll work with senior leadership to align strategies, strengthen supplier relationships, and implement new ways of working to deliver