Senior Category Manager

WR Logistics; Wembley; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday

Private medical

Pension

Life assurance

Onsite parking

Job summary

WR Logistics in North London seeks a Senior Category Manager to own high-value category strategy across retail and wholesale. You will lead category plans, negotiate with key suppliers, and shape range, pricing and promotions to maximise sales and margin.

You'll collaborate with senior stakeholders, build Joint Business Plans, mentor Category Assistants, and drive sustainable commercial growth within a large multinational family-owned business.

Qualifications

• Significant senior commercial, buying or trading experience.
• Proven experience developing and delivering category strategies.
• Strong track record of negotiating high-impact deals on cost and margin.
• Excellent commercial judgement and analytical capability.

Responsibilities

• Developing and delivering strategic category plans.
• Owning ranging, pricing and promotional strategies.
• Maximising sales, margin, retail POR and cash profit.
• Building high-value supplier relationships and Joint Business Plans.
• Negotiating impactful supplier deals, costing and margin opportunities.
• Securing supplier investment for marketing, media and promotional initiatives.
• Analysing market, category and promotional performance to identify growth opportunities.
• Managing range development, identifying gaps and strengthening the customer proposition.
• Developing the optimum balance of branded and own-brand products.
• Planning seasonal promotions and key commercial initiatives.
• Maximising product availability across your categories.
• Influencing senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Mentoring and developing Category Assistants.
• Driving continuous improvement and delivering sustainable commercial growth.

Skills

Senior commercial experience

Category management

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Job description

Senior Category Manager - North London

£65,000-£72,000 salary | Private Medical | Pension | Life Assurance | 30 days' total holiday including bank holidays | Onsite parking

Are you an experienced Senior Category Manager, Buyer or Commercial Trading professional ready to take ownership of a high-value category and make a significant impact on sales, margin and profitability?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a large, successful, family-owned multinational business and play a senior role in shaping category strategy, supplier partnerships and commercial performance across the retail and wholesale market.

The opportunity

As Senior Category Manager, you'll have significant commercial ownership, leading the development and delivery of category plans that maximise sales, margin, retail POR and cash profit.

You'll work closely with senior stakeholders and key suppliers, using market insight, commercial expertise and strong negotiation skills to shape range, pricing, promotions and supplier investment.

This is a role for someone who enjoys having influence, accountability and the opportunity to make commercially significant decisions.

You'll be responsible for:

• Developing and delivering strategic category plans
• Owning ranging, pricing and promotional strategies
• Maximising sales, margin, retail POR and cash profit
• Building high-value supplier relationships and Joint Business Plans
• Negotiating impactful supplier deals, costing and margin opportunities
• Securing supplier investment for marketing, media and promotional initiatives
• Analysing market, category and promotional performance to identify growth opportunities
• Managing range development, identifying gaps and strengthening the customer proposition
• Developing the optimum balance of branded and own-brand products
• Planning seasonal promotions and key commercial initiatives
• Maximising product availability across your categories
• Influencing senior internal and external stakeholders
• Mentoring and developing Category Assistants
• Driving continuous improvement and delivering sustainable commercial growth

What you'll bring

We're looking for an experienced commercial leader with a strong background in FMCG wholesale, ideally within a senior buying, trading or category management environment.

You'll bring:

• Significant senior commercial, buying or trading experience
• Proven experience developing and delivering category strategies
• A strong track record of negotiating high-impact deals on cost and margin
• Excellent commercial judgement and analytical capability

Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills

Confidence, tenacity and assertiveness when pursuing commercial outcomes

Experience analysing market, category and performance data

Excellent problem-solving skills

A genuine commitment to continuous improvement

BWS category experience would be advantageous

Why join?

This is an opportunity to step into a high-profile senior commercial role with genuine influence and accountability.

You’ll have the freedom to shape category strategy, negotiate with key suppliers and make decisions that directly influence sales, profitability, range and customer value.

You’ll join an established and growing international organisation with a strong family-owned heritage, diverse business interests and operations across the UK and internationally.

With significant exposure to senior stakeholders, suppliers and commercial decision-making, this role offers an excellent platform for someone looking to take their category career to the next level.

The package

£65,000-£72,000 salary

Plus:

• 30 days' total holiday including bank holidays
• Private Medical
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Onsite parking

Location: North London / Park Royal

You don't need to tick every box. If you have the majority of the relevant experience and are ready to take on a senior role with genuine commercial ownership, we'd love to hear from you.