Junior Category Manager

Toolstation Limited; Northampton, Bridgwater; Remote; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

22 days holidays + Bank Holidays

Company pension scheme

Life assurance

Bonus scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Save and buy as you earn

20% discounts across Travis Perkins

Job summary

Toolstation Limited is recruiting for a Junior Category Manager to join our commercial team. The role involves owning a product category, developing strategies, and driving supplier and customer value across Northampton and Bridgwater markets.

You will influence trading margins, drive product innovation, and build strong relationships with stores and suppliers. You’ll support the wider Commercial Strategy while delivering exceptional service to stores and customers.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in buying/commercial roles
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills
• Ability to build relationships with suppliers and stores
• Analytical mindset with ability to manage margins and product ranges

Responsibilities

• Understand category performance and market trends
• Engage with suppliers to ensure performance and service levels
• Prepare and align commercial plans with business objectives
• Review promotions and apply learnings to improve margins

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier management

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Budgeting

Communication

Excel

Problem solving

Multi-tasking

Commercial acumen

Tools

Excel

Google Sheets

PowerPoint

Job description

What you'll do

Candidates must be able to drive and travel to Northampton and/or Bridgwater each week

Do you thrive in a commercial environment and enjoy negotiating with suppliers? Do you relish the challenge of driving sustainable profitable sales and putting customers and stores at the heart of everything you do? Do you have great attention to detail, an ability to multitask and enjoy problem solving?

If the answer is yes then Toolstation are currently recruiting for an Junior Category Manager to join the team!

We have an opportunity within our commercial team as an Junior Category Manager. This is your opportunity to stamp your personality across a category, supporting the implementation of product category strategies within Toolstation whilst being fully supported along the way.

You’ll own the customer proposition, you will drive innovation of new products, influence the trading margin and mix - and support the wider Commercial Strategy in growing and managing our product base and business performance whilst building and maintaining fantastic relationships with our stores, providing them with the service that they need to win.

Day-to-day

Seek to understand the relevant customer/retail market and the category performance within that – understanding key market trends

Engage develop and maintain continuous relationships building with all suppliers making sure performance and customer service are key considerations

Prepare commercial plans, ensuring accuracy and alignment with overall business objectives.

Review all promotional activity; implementing learnings to improve promotional and margin performance

What you'll bring

You currently work within a buying or commercial team and are looking for the opportunity to step up or into a new role and develop your skills. We’ll need you to have excellent negotiation and influencing skills along with a strong commercial mind and an instinct for a deal. You’ll be working closely with our suppliers, stores and sales teams, so we’ll need you to utilise your great communication skills and ability to influence. Most importantly, we’re looking for someone to show passion and ambition to ensure we are getting the best deals for our customers, always.

• Demonstrable ability to engage and influence key stakeholders and suppliers.
• Previous buying/ commercial experience will be necessary.
• Working previously within category performance would be desirable.
• Proven experience of spotting opportunities using product and consumer knowledge as well as market awareness.
• Analytical skills to monitor and measure sales and profit results and adjust product ranges to ensure sales targets and margins are achieved.
• Excellent working knowledge of Google or Microsoft spreadsheet, word and presentation applications
• Numerate with experience of managing costs and budgets.

What you'll get

You’ll find every opportunity to be yourself and to bring your personality and potential to work. Wherever you join us there will be opportunities to take your career wherever you want – up the ladder, across the business or into another role in the Travis Perkins Group. And because we want to do our best for you, you’ll be supported all the way with training and development – including access to our very own Toolstation Academy programmes.

Plus, you'll receive some of the best benefits in retail. So, as well as 22 days’ holidays + Bank Holidays, company pension scheme and life assurance, we offer a bonus scheme, cycle to work scheme, save and buy as you earn, 20% discounts across all Travis Perkins companies, financial education and support, recognition awards and discounts at over 1000 other retailers.

• Plus, you'll receive some of the best benefits in retail. So, as well as 22 days’ holidays + Bank Holidays, company pension scheme and life assurance, we offer a bonus scheme, cycle to work scheme, save and buy as you earn, 20% discounts across all Travis Perkins companies, financial education and support, recognition awards and discounts at over 1000 other retailers.

Toolstation. The story so far.

We’re one of Britain’s fastest growing multi-channel retailers of tools, accessories and building supplies and an integral part of Travis Perkins plc. The trade, home improvers and self-builders all trust us to deliver a lot more than tools. Our store expansion programme and the size and diversity of our Group, means we always have opportunities for ambitious people who want to grow with us.

Our policy is to employ the best qualified people and provide equal opportunity for the advancement of employees including promotion and training and not to discriminate against any person because of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion, belief or disability.