MacGregor Black
Senior Category Manager
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Are you an experienced Category Manager with a strong background in FMCG wholesale, retail or convenience?
Can you build commercially successful category strategies across ranging, pricing, promotions and supplier income?
Do you have the confidence to lead complex supplier negotiations while influencing senior internal stakeholders?
MacGregor Black are partnering with a leading, privately owned retail and wholesale group on the search for a Senior Category Manager. This is a permanent role based in Ealing, London, offering a salary of £65,000–£70,000 plus benefits.
About the Role
The Senior Category Manager will take ownership of the development and delivery of commercially focused category plans that maximise sales, margin and profitability across both the wholesale and retail estate. This is a broad commercial role encompassing category strategy, supplier management, ranging, pricing, promotional planning and the negotiation of supplier-funded marketing and media activity.
Working across a complex, high-volume product portfolio, you will use customer insight, market data and commercial analysis to create a compelling proposition for both independent retailers and end consumers. You will also provide guidance, coaching and day-to-day direction to Category Assistants, ensuring all category activity is delivered accurately and on time.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement category strategies that deliver agreed sales, margin, retail POR and cash-profit targets.
- Create and deliver detailed category plans aligned with the wider commercial and business strategy.
- Take ownership of product ranging, pricing and promotional activity across the category.
- Review category performance, identifying opportunities to improve sales, margin, availability and profitability.
- Build strategic supplier relationships and develop effective Joint Business Plans.
- Lead commercial negotiations covering product costs, margin, promotional funding, marketing support and media income.
- Secure incremental supplier investment for promotional events, corporate initiatives and targeted commercial activity.
- Manage the category range, identifying distribution gaps, new product opportunities and underperforming lines.
- Ensure the pricing proposition remains competitive, commercially sustainable and aligned with company policy.
- Develop the Own Brand strategy, ensuring the right balance between branded and private-label products.
- Plan and communicate seasonal events and promotional requirements across suppliers and internal departments.
- Analyse promotional performance, category trends and customer behaviour to improve future activity.
- Work closely with supply chain teams to maximise availability and reduce lost sales.
- Build effective relationships across commercial, marketing, retail operations, supply chain and finance.
- Mentor and develop Category Assistants, ensuring strong standards of administration, reporting and execution.
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What We’re Looking For
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- Significant category management, buying or trading experience within FMCG wholesale, convenience retail or a closely related environment.
- A strong track record of developing and delivering commercially successful category strategies.
- Proven experience negotiating high-value supplier agreements covering cost, margin, promotional funding and commercial income.
- Strong knowledge of ranging, pricing, promotions, supplier management and Joint Business Planning.
- Commercially astute, with the ability to balance customer needs, supplier relationships and profitability.
- Highly numerate, with experience analysing category performance, market data, pricing and promotional effectiveness.
- Confident influencing and challenging senior stakeholders internally and externally.
- A tenacious and assertive approach, with the ability to manage conflict and maintain focus on commercial outcomes.
- Strong planning, problem-solving and organisational skills.
- Previous experience mentoring, coaching or managing junior category team members.
- Experience working within the Beer, Wine and Spirits category would be advantageous.
For more information, please contact Alice Redmond.
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