Product Category Manager

Simkiss Guy; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the automotive and leisure sectors is seeking a proactive Product Category Manager to manage the complete product lifecycle. In this role, you will drive growth, oversee supplier relationships, and ensure quality standards. The position offers competitive salary and benefits along with hybrid working options. Applicants should have a strong background in product sourcing and category management, along with negotiation and analytical skills.

Benefits

Performance-based annual bonus

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Contributory pension scheme

Employee wellbeing and health support packages

Free onsite parking

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in a Purchasing Category Manager or Senior Buyer role.
• Strong understanding of product sourcing, development, and quality processes.
• Experience in automotive or leisure sectors preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage product lifecycle from concept to launch.
• Sourcing suppliers and ensuring compliance with standards.
• Collaborate with marketing for promotional support.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical thinking

Product development

Supplier relationship management

Communication

Education

Degree in business, marketing or related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

ERP systems (e.g. Epicor)

Job description

Are you an experienced and driven purchasing professional looking for your next opportunity in a thriving, forward-thinking organisation?

Do you enjoy working in a varied role where you can take full ownership of product categories from sourcing through to launch and ongoing performance?

We have a superb opportunity for a Product Category Manager to join a busy and growing team, working across the Automotive Aftermarket and Leisure sectors.

In this exciting Product Category Manager role, you will be responsible for managing the full lifecycle of products within your portfolio, identifying growth opportunities through market and competitor analysis, and driving product development from concept through to launch. You will build and maintain strong relationships with a global supplier base, negotiate competitive pricing and terms, and work cross-functionally to ensure that products meet specification, regulatory, and customer requirements.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include sourcing new suppliers, overseeing packaging and artwork creation, ensuring compliance with relevant certification and testing standards, and collaborating with marketing to support category-related promotions. You will also play a key part in trade and retail shows, manage external creative support, and support the resolution of any quality issues that arise. Reporting directly to the Purchasing Director, this is a vital role in a busy management team and will require occasional overseas travel for supplier visits and sourcing exhibitions.

To succeed in this Product Category Manager role, you will need at least three years’ experience in a Purchasing Category Manager, Senior Buyer or equivalent position, ideally within the automotive or leisure sector. A degree in business, marketing or a related discipline is required, along with a strong understanding of product sourcing, development and quality processes. You will be highly organised, analytically minded, and a confident communicator with strong negotiation skills and the ability to work collaboratively across teams. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word is essential, and experience with ERP systems such as Epicor and/or MCIPS qualifications would be an advantage.

In return, this position offers a competitive salary depending on experience, a performance-based annual bonus, and hybrid working options following successful completion of the probation period. Office hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:00am to 2:00pm on Fridays, with 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising with service. Additional benefits include a contributory pension scheme with enhanced employer contributions, employee wellbeing and health support packages, and free onsite parking.

If you are a proactive and commercially astute category professional looking to take the next step in your career, we would love to hear from you.

SimkissGuy Recruitment is acting as a recruitment agency for the purpose of this vacancy. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. If we would like to discuss your CV and experience further, we will be in touch within three working days. If you do not hear from us within that time, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion, but we welcome future applications for roles that may better suit your skills and experience.