Senior Director Category Management F&M

RS Group; Weldon; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading solutions provider in the UK is seeking a Senior Director of Category Management to drive category strategies that support growth and profitability. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in managing supplier relations, leading teams, and executing business strategies. The role offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, ensuring colleagues feel valued and supported in their professional journey.

Benefits

Pension/Retirement

Life Assurance

Health Screening

Discounted Gym Membership

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing within a matrix organization.
• Expertise in Buying and Product/Category Management.
• Demonstrated leadership in developing high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategy aligned with regional strategies.
• Deliver budgeted category revenue, margin, and stock metrics.
• Lead and coach the category team.

Skills

Supplier management

Negotiation skills

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Problem-solving

Digital mindset

Cross-cultural communication

Job description

Senior Director of Category Management – Job Overview

We're looking for a Senior Director of Category Management to lead the development and execution of category strategies that drive profitable growth, customer acquisition, and ROI. This role is pivotal in shaping our regional supplier portfolio, product range, and growth initiatives, ensuring alignment with group, regional, and local stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategy and business plans aligned with regional and local go-to-market strategies.
• Deliver budgeted category revenue, margin, and stock metrics.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with strategic suppliers to optimize joint business growth.
• Lead and coach the category team, driving talent development and succession planning.
• Define KPIs and priorities for the team, ensuring alignment across cross-functional category leadership teams.
• Support execution of regional initiatives and NPI plans, achieving agreed revenue targets.
• Drive a digital mindset within the team to enable better business decisions.
• Proven experience managing within a matrix organization.
• Expertise in Buying and Product/Category Management with a track record of delivering growth and profitability.
• Strong supplier management and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work effectively across cultures and communicate with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership in developing high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial acumen and problem-solving capabilities.
• Adaptability to change and ability to drive transformation.

Desirable

• Technical expertise or relevant technology experience.
• Multilingual communication skills and international experience.

Company Overview

We've been solving industry problems for over 80 years. We turn the 'what ifs' into the 'why nots', the impossible into the possible.

Our purpose? Making amazing happen for a better world. We offer service and product solutions to over 1.2 million customers globally, shipping a parcel every 2 seconds to over 130 countries. With over 800,000 stocked and 3 million unstocked products, we're a trusted partner to the world's leading industries.

We're looking for curious, driven, and empathetic professionals to join our journey. People who think differently, act with purpose, and want to make a real impact. Join c. 9,000 colleagues and help us shape the future of our industry. Whoever you are, wherever you are - it all starts here.

Reward Strategy Philosophy

Our Reward Strategy Philosophy is designed to offer market competitive base salaries and provide all of our people the opportunity to participate in a short-term incentive, enabling them to share in the success of the Company. Our total reward package is more than just the cash; our recognition and benefit offering provide the opportunity for us to recognise, reward and enable the wellbeing of our people at all stages of their journey with RS. Our rewards and benefits vary by country, but include:

• Financial: Pension/Retirement; Life Assurance; Salary Finance (payroll deduction loan scheme)
• Wellbeing: Medical plans; Health Screening; Critical Illness; Disability insurance; Holiday/Paid Time Off; Employee Assistance Programme; discounted Gym/Health Club membership
• Lifestyle: Transportation assistance schemes (e.g., Cycle to Work, travel loans, car leasing); onsite catering/lunch vouchers; retail discounts
• Spotlight: our global recognition programme provides a platform to highlight and recognise people role modelling our values