Ansell Lighting
Product Category Manager
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In a Nutshell:
In the role of Product Category Manager, you will oversee and grow our lighting product portfolio. This mid to senior-level role will be responsible for managing the full product lifecycle, building strong supplier relationships, and aligning product strategy with wholesale market demands. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring Ansell remains competitive and innovative in all lighting categories.
Who are Ansell & What do we do:
We design and manufacture internal and external lighting solutions for customers across the whole spectrum of the public and private sectors, with quality and sustainability at the heart of our operations. Established in 1992, we have grown to become a global operator with bases in Warrington and Belfast and state-of-the-art showrooms in Belfast, Warrington, Madrid, and Dublin, supplying to more than 26 countries. Ansell Lighting is a byword for innovation in lighting design and we have won multiple awards for our energy-efficient luminaires and industry-leading lighting control system, Octo.
Key Responsibilities of the Role:
MAIN DUTIES
- Manage and develop a defined portfolio of lighting products, ensuring market fit, quality, and profitability.
- Drive new product development in collaboration with our manufacturing partners—defining specifications, reviewing samples, managing timelines, and ensuring quality control.
- Monitor industry trends, customer feedback, and competitor activity to identify new opportunities or risks in the product range.
- Lead product launches and range reviews, including commercial planning, technical documentation, pricing, and internal training.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with purchasing, supply chain, marketing, compliance, and sales teams to ensure smooth product introductions and lifecycle transitions.
- Work closely with the QA and technical teams to ensure all products meet UK and EU regulatory standards and Ansell’s quality expectations.
- Visit key suppliers (including international travel to Asia) to manage relationships, conduct audits, and assess production capabilities.
- Provide commercial insight and support to the sales team, equipping them with relevant product information, unique selling points, and market positioning.
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PROJECTS
- Day to day interface with internal team and suppliers.
- GAP analysis of product offering, and areas of development required.
- Departmental responsibility for the consolidation of data, certification, and files for product handover.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN
- Management of product segment(s) / projects alongside other product managers and designers’ team.
- Ensure all products designed and sourced adhere and comply with the latest applicable standards.
- Product benchmarking against competitor against existing or new products for all sectors.
- Arrange and ensure all products are internally/externally tested where required.
RESEARCH
- Market research reviewing Ansell’s position within the lighting market and review areas to improve.
- Review and monitor product life cycles for Ansell and associated brands.
- Product / supplier strategy & roadmaps 2yrs+.
- Establish potential products / product ranges, review, and integrate into product roadmaps.
- Prepare continuous benchmarking information. This can include components, competitors pricing followed up with a report of the findings.
SUPPLIER INTERFACE
- Dialog with suppliers / internal teams for regular updates.
- Consolidation of data, specification, certification, and files for product.
- Manage price negotiation to maintain a competitive level and push for product savings going forward.
- Product sourcing and re-sourcing from any competitive region.
Are you right for us?
Our Lighting Product Category Manager will have/be:
Essential
- Good level of general and higher education.
- 3+ years of experience in product/category management, ideally within lighting, electrical, or related building products.
- Demonstrable experience sourcing and managing products from Chinese suppliers, including understanding of manufacturing, negotiation, tooling, and quality control.
- Strong commercial acumen with a solid understanding of pricing strategies and margin control.
- Proficient in project management, with excellent organisational and communication skills.
- Fully versed with Luminaire componentry and up-to-date awareness of componentry availability.
- Knowledge of lighting technologies (especially LED), UK and EU regulations, and energy efficiency standards.
- Negotiation approach.
- Computer-literate, being fully conversant with MS Excel, Word, and experience of DTX / Perito would be a distinct advantage.
- Able to work independently, make data-driven decisions, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Keen to learn and have the application to increase overall knowledge.
- Able to operate confidently and communicate effectively at all levels, both verbally and in a written form.
- Professional in approach, and able to lead by example, acting with tact and diplomacy.
- Committed to learning and self-development.
- Desire to continue to learn and grow with an ever-evolving industry.
- Comfortable with international travel to supplier locations in Asia.
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Desirable
- Any applicable courses within the lighting sector.
- Advanced general knowledge of luminaires, componentry, and smart technologies.
- Experience in the UK wholesale electrical distribution channel (e.g., experience working with distributors, wholesalers, or contractors).
- Familiarity with lighting control systems, smart lighting, and evolving technologies in the lighting space.
- Experience in Lighting, Electronics, and Luminaire design.
- Ability to locate research data to aid market research tasks.
- Understanding of compliance standards such as CE, UKCA, ENEC, RoHS, and relevant testing procedures.
- Completer finisher.
- Personable and approachable management style.
And now for the Good Stuff:
We are all about our customer experience and we are committed to our people. We work hard to ensure you can enjoy your job and are well rewarded. As well as excellent training, development, and progression opportunities, other benefits include:
- Competitive salary, benefits, (Salary DOE)
- 28 days holiday - includes Bank Holidays (increasing with length of service plus Christmas shut down)
- Discount on our products
- Recognition and rewards scheme
- Access to our learning platform including great training and development programs.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Free onsite Parking
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Life Assurance
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