Category Manager

South Kent

£40,000 - £55,000 DOE



We are currently recruiting for a fantastic reputable company in the South Kent area, who are seeking a Category Manager to join their busy team!

Duties include:



Develop and roll out comprehensive category strategies suiting the business objectives.
Recognise market trends and customer needs to drive growth and profitability.
Analyse market data, consumer insights and sales trends to optimize product assortments.
Identifying opportunities for new products and liaise with suppliers to ensure a well-balanced assortment.
Define pricing strategies based on market dynamics, product positioning and competitive analysis.
Relationship building with key suppliers, incorporating negotiation, pricing, discounts and promotional support. Score supplier performance and seek out cost saving opportunities and ways to improve service levels.
Working with internal teams (Sales, Marketing, Operations and Supply Chain) to combine strategies with the business goals. Provide support and guidance to make sure the category plans are rolled out effectively.
Carry out market research and analysis to stay up to speed with industry trends, consumer preferences and competitive activities. Use your knowledge to identify opportunities and make recommendations.
Monitoring of category performance using metrics. Develop and implement action plans to manage performance issues and push for continuous improvement.
Liaise with the finance team and demand planners to develop sales forecasts and budgets for the assigned categories.
Manage performance against targets and supply solutions when necessary.
Identify opportunities for cross-category collaborations and promotional opportunities to maximize customer sales and profitability.

The ideal candidate will have / be:



An experienced Purchasing Manager in a sizeable business with formal supply chain management procedures.
CIPS Qualified (Desirable)
Procurement or leadership qualifications (Desirable)
5 years minimum procurement experience
Strong leadership and entrepreneurial skills
Strong decision making and problem solving skills
Strong negotiation and networking skills
Able to analyse data with strong mathematical and analytical skills
Knowledge on market dynamics
 Budget management and commercial acumen
 Able to work in a high pressure environment
Risk and time management skills


This is rare and fantastic opportunity to join a growing successful business with a view to a long-term career. You will be offered a friendly and fun working environment.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced job where you are looked after and rewarded on your hard work, then this is the job for you!



This role is being handled by Charlotte Franklin for Pearson Whiffin Recruitment


Pearson Whiffin Recruitment does not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender, disability, creed or sexual orientation and complies with all relevant UK legislation.

PLEASE NOTE! It is unlawful to employ a person in a UK-based job who does not have permission to live and work in the UK. You should therefore make yourself aware of how immigration laws apply to your situation before applying for any jobs.

We are acting as a Recruitment Agency in relation to this role.