Assistant Category Manager

CO-OP; United States; Remote; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

28 days holiday

Pension with employer contributions

Onsite gym access

Product discounts

Stream pay access

Virtual healthcare

24/7 colleague support

Training and development

Cycle-to-work scheme

Job summary

Co-op is seeking an Assistant Category Manager to join the Procurement team, focusing on marketing category strategy, supplier management, and value delivery. You’ll help develop category plans, analyse spend, and ensure compliance with governance policies.

The role offers exposure to large-scale procurement with opportunities for career growth. You'll engage cross-functionally, execute sourcing activities, and support process improvements in a fast-paced environment at Co-op’s Manchester HQ.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical ability to identify trends and commercial gains.
• Experience in spend analysis and supplier performance assessment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for internal/external partners.
• Solid understanding of category management processes and procurement practices.

Responsibilities

• Analyse spend and supplier data to identify trends and deliver value.
• Support development of new procurement processes and manage spend end-to-end.
• Improve visibility, control, and compliance across the category.
• Monitor savings against targets and flag risks or opportunities.
• Own market intelligence reporting feeding category strategy.
• Execute sourcing strategies including tendering, analysis, and negotiation.
• Ensure contractual obligations align with governance and risk policies.
• Facilitate supplier meetings and drive performance improvements where needed.

Skills

Analytical skills

Supplier data analysis

Negotiation

Excel proficiency

Stakeholder management

Tools

Excel

Job description

We're looking for an Assistant Category Manager to join our Procurement team and help drive our strategy across our marketing category. If you can bring us the skills we need, you'll have the opportunity to make a huge impact, making sure we're getting the best value for money and reinvesting savings into our communities. Why this role matters As an Assistant Category Manager, you'll be responsible for managing categories such as instore consumables and subscriptions, with an emphasis on contract and supplier management. You'll work closely with colleagues across the business to support the development of innovative category plans. Our growing procurement team has a £1.3 billion annual spend. It's a big job. But an even bigger opportunity to grow your profile in this important area of the business. What you'll do

• Analyse spend and supplier data to identify trends and deliver value, service improvements and commercial benefit
• Support the team in developing new and effect processes and managing spend from an end-to-end perspective
• Help drive visibility, control, and compliance across the category
• Monitor savings against targets, flagging any risks or opportunities to the category manager
• Own and develop market intelligence reporting and market analysis that will feed into the category strategy
• Execute sourcing strategies, including tendering, analysis, selection, and negotiation with suppliers
• Support the category team with procurement projects
• Make sure all contractual obligations relating to the Co-op and suppliers are set up correctly in line with the supplier framework governance and risk management policies
• Facilitate supplier meetings and prepare performance improvements plans for underperforming suppliers
  Good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with internal and external partners
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to analyse and interpret data using intermediate excel skills
• Experience in process improvement
• Drive and tenacity to work in a fast-paced environment and manage changing deadlines
• A passion for negotiation and sound commercial thinking ability
  At Co-op, we're owned by our members. And because we're owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you're not just taking a job, you're joining a movement. We're an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we're powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you'll also receive:
• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream - early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• A place you'll belong We're building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.