Weldfast UK
Category Manager
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About Weldfast UK
Weldfast UK Limited is a leading provider in the welding industry, delivering high-quality products and services that support professionals and businesses across the country. We are committed to innovation, excellence, and becoming the go-to business in the welding sector.
The business is backed by investors and supported by a strengthened leadership team and currently going through a period of transformation. New senior hires are joining, systems and infrastructure are being upgraded, and the business is moving from a traditional founder led model to a more modern and scalable operation. This is a genuine opportunity to join at a pivotal moment and help shape the next stage of the business.
Role Purpose
The Category Manager is responsible for developing, managing, and optimising a defined product portfolio to drive sales growth and profitability. Using market intelligence, customer insight, and industry knowledge, the role ensures the company offers a competitive, relevant, and high-performing product range that meets the needs of customers within the welding and fabrication sector.
Working cross-functionally and in close partnership with suppliers, the Category Manager will maximise commercial opportunities, secure competitive procurement terms, and grow supplier-related income streams.
Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Portfolio Management
- Develop and implement category strategies aligned to overall business objectives.
- Manage the full product lifecycle, including range reviews, new product introduction, rationalisation, and discontinuation.
- Ensure the product range remains competitive, innovative, and relevant to customer needs in the welding and industrial sectors.
- Monitor category performance (sales, margin, stock turns) and take corrective actions where required.
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Market & Customer Insight
- Use market intelligence, industry trends, and customer feedback to identify growth opportunities.
- Analyse competitor activity to ensure strong market positioning.
- Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements and demand patterns.
Supplier Management & Commercial Negotiation
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers.
- Lead commercial negotiations to secure the most competitive pricing, rebates, and trading terms.
- Identify and deliver opportunities to increase supplier income (e.g., marketing support, promotions, exclusivity agreements).
- Partner with suppliers to develop joint business plans and growth initiatives.
- Identify the best suppliers for our products and services.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with sales, marketing, procurement, and operations teams to deliver category plans.
- Support the sales team with product knowledge, pricing strategies, and promotional activity.
- Collaborate with marketing on campaigns, product launches, and supplier-funded initiatives.
Pricing & Profitability
- Develop and maintain pricing strategies in line with targets to ensure competitiveness while protecting margin.
- Monitor cost price movements and adjust pricing where necessary.
- Drive margin improvement through strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations.
Stock & Supply Chain Optimisation
- Work with supply chain teams to improve forecasting, with awareness of stock levels and availability.
- Support the introduction of new suppliers and products into the supply chain.
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Key Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in category management, product management, or procurement (ideally within industrial, engineering, or welding sectors).
- Strong commercial acumen with a track record of delivering sales and margin growth.
- Excellent negotiation that has increased bottom line profit and supplier management skills.
- Ability to analyse data and translate insights into actionable strategies.
- A good understanding of market dynamics and customer needs.
- Effective cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Excel and data analysis capability (experience with ERP systems desirable).
Key Behaviours
- Commercially driven and results-oriented within a high-paced selling environment
- Strategic thinker with strong analytical capability
- Proactive and opportunity-focused
- Collaborative, a strong communicator and relationship builder
- Customer-centric mindset
- Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
Success Measures
- Sales growth within assigned categories
- Margin and profitability improvement
- Supplier income growth
- Range competitiveness and availability
- Successful delivery of category strategy initiatives
Why Join Weldfast UK?
- A dynamic role within a supportive, ever-changing working environment
- Continuous training and development
- Government enrolled Pension Plan
- Competitive salary with annual review
- Mobile Phone
- One paid volunteering day per year
- 20 days holiday (plus public holidays and Christmas shutdown)
- Additional holiday with length of service
- Hybrid working (3 days in office, 2 remote)
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