Senior Category Manager

Zachary Daniels; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days’ holiday

Discretionary bonus

Private medical cover

20% discount

Enhanced family leave

Share save scheme

Award-winning Pension

In-house training

Job summary

A leading retail group is seeking a Senior Category Manager for their Somerset office. The role involves owning and evolving category strategy, leading cross-functional teams, and managing P&L. Ideal candidates will have a strong commercial acumen, proven category growth success, and excellent negotiation skills. The position offers exceptional benefits, including 33 days holiday, a discretionary bonus, and in-house training opportunities. This is an opportunity for a strategic thinker to drive significant growth within a fast-paced retail environment.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of delivering category growth.
• Full P&L management experience.
• Experience leading high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the category strategy.
• Lead at Board and Senior Leadership level.
• Drive sustainable sales and margin performance.
• Build and nurture strong supplier partnerships.

Skills

Commercially sharp and people-focused

Strong commercial acumen

Supplier negotiation skills

Advanced financial and analytical capability

Leadership and team development

Experience with digital tools

Digital tools experience

Tools

Data analytics platforms

Modern procurement tools

Job description

Senior Category Manager | Somerset | Hybrid

Are you a commercially sharp, people-focused Category leader ready to take ownership of a high-impact, growth-driving category?

This is a brilliant opportunity to join our client at their Head Office in Somerset, leading a strategically significant category that sits right at the heart of the business's future growth ambitions.

Reporting to the Director of Trading, you'll have full P&L accountability and the platform to shape, influence and elevate a powerhouse category across the organisation.

The Opportunity

As Senior Category Manager, you'll:

• Own and evolve the category strategy, aligning it to wider business objectives and market opportunity
• Lead at Board and Senior Leadership level, presenting performance, risks and growth plans with confidence
• Drive sustainable sales, margin and working capital performance
• Build and nurture strong supplier partnerships, negotiating best-in-class commercial terms
• Champion innovation - from new product introduction to phasing out underperforming SKUs
• Collaborate cross-functionally across Trading, Supply Chain, Marketing, Finance and Digital
• Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing team, creating a culture of accountability, agility and excellence

You’ll deputise for the Director of Trading when required and play a key role within the wider Trading leadership team.

What We’re Looking For

You’ll likely be operating as a Senior Buyer, Category Manager or similar within a retail environment, with:

• A proven track record of delivering category growth
• Strong commercial acumen and full P&L management experience
• Excellent supplier negotiation and influencing skills
• Advanced financial and analytical capability
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams
• The ability to translate strategy into clear, focused action
• Experience with digital tools, data analytics and modern procurement platforms would be highly advantageous.

Why Join?

Beyond the opportunity to truly shape a category and influence at senior level, the benefits package is exceptional:

• 33 days’ holiday (including bank holidays, with 5 flexible days)
• Discretionary bonus
• Private medical cover (individual and family options)
• 20% discount
• Enhanced family leave
• Share save scheme and award‑winning Pension
• In‑house training and development opportunities

This is a role for a commercially driven, strategic thinker who thrives on ownership, influence and leading from the front. If you’re ready to take your category leadership to the next level within a fast-paced, ambitious retail environment, I’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch for a confidential conversation.