Strategic Category Lead: Growth & Margin Mastery

Rise Resourcing; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Rise Resourcing is seeking a senior Category Manager to develop and execute category strategies across a broad product portfolio. The role leads end-to-end category management, from range planning and supplier negotiations to pricing, promotions, and performance analysis.

You will lead a team and collaborate cross-functionally to keep the product offer competitive, relevant, and aligned with customer demand. Strong negotiation, analytics, and stakeholder management are essential.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in buying or category management.
• Proven track record of delivering sales growth and margin improvement.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Excellent commercial and analytical capability with data-driven decision making.
• Understanding of market trends, customer behaviour, and retail dynamics.
• Excellent planning, organisation and stakeholder management.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver category strategies that support business growth and commercial objectives.
• Build customer-focused product ranges across general merchandise categories.
• Identify market trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities.
• Own category performance across sales, margin, stock turn, and sell-through.
• Lead, coach, and develop junior members of the team.
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative team culture.
• Drive continuous improvement in buying processes and decision-making.
• Lead commercial negotiations on cost prices, trading terms, and promotions.

Skills

Buying

Category management

Negotiation

Supplier management

Analytical thinking

Job description

Rise Resourcing is seeking a senior Category Manager to develop and execute category strategies across a broad product portfolio. The role leads end-to-end category management, from range planning and supplier negotiations to pricing, promotions, and performance analysis.

You will lead a team and collaborate cross-functionally to keep the product offer competitive, relevant, and aligned with customer demand. Strong negotiation, analytics, and stakeholder management are essential.