Category Manager

The role is based in Normanton. The Category Manager will be required to travel to other Group locations to work alongside colleagues and for external meetings as appropriate (including internationally)., The Category Manager will be responsible for owning all elements of the product lifecycle within the agreed category. This includes a multiyear approach to drive forward the category and develop our product range, new brands and supplier relationships. The category will need to deliver for all the different sales channels within the Group. The Category Manager will represent their category across the organisation, develop strong inter-departmental links and facilitate improvements to processes and outcomes. The role will need to deliver on a variety of commercial targets including cost price, rebates, price support and working capital. Supplier management is at the heart of the role, and they will need to manage that relationship to the benefit of EVO whilst ensuring the supplier is engaged in the opportunities within the Group. Responsibilities will include but will not be limited to:

• Negotiate with suppliers to achieve best business package for EVO including agreeing terms for rebates, MDF, annual and quarterly targets
• Build category plans for key suppliers/key categories that support EVO's aspirations for revenue and profit growth.
• Understand the category, competitors, suppliers & market dynamics.
• To develop and communicate knowledge of the UK and Irish market and trends in order to define the vendors & sku range for the category.
• Manage their category range to ensure EVO has the right products to service its different sales channels. This includes the constant removal and launching of new lines
• Alongside the Purchasing team, oversee the development of unique private label product ranges from suppliers in the UK, Europe and the Rest of the World
• Have a strategy to support the achievement of purchase and sales targets including regular, monitoring, communications & corrective actions
• Identification & development of long-term suppliers for existing and new products in accordance with the business strategy & range control plans
• Present category plans to senior management
• Ensure due diligence is performed on all new suppliers in accordance with Responsible Procurement policy and coordinating with the Compliance Manager on new products
• Effectively guide, educate and manage team members
• Through the product management team manage the full process of bringing new products to market including internal communication with the relevant departments, key areas being inventory, operations and marketing. Plus, the production of external publications e.g. the annual catalogue
• Oversee all supplier 'housekeeping 'including product set up, pricing, stock issues, rebates, price protection, and customer queries.
• Report on supplier performance and manage communication with suppliers on issues and improvement plans where required.
• Deliver on the company's sustainable procurement objectives and introduce products and solutions to further the company's CSR objectives.
• Understand and monitor product and supplier compliance in line with company terms and conditions and keep up to date with differences between EU and UK product certification.
• Support and advise Product Marketing teams to deliver on the product marketing programme; this includes pitching for funding and negotiating contractual support
• Assist Purchasing in completing competitive customer tender bids through sourcing products and negotiating vendor support.
• Support Group Inventory with problematic key suppliers and negotiate solutions to poor performance
• Build strong relationships and rapport with key personnel, interfacing at different levels with key supplier contacts.
• Prioritise activity that presents the greatest influence, both real and potential, on the profitability of EVO Group
  
  Developed supplier management skills.
• Time management is critical in this job role, so the ability to focus and drive to meet goals, deadlines and manage their workload is key.
• Developed communication skills and a high level of professionalism to work with senior supplier contacts.
• Have a good understanding of the end to end sales process including sourcing, stockholding, pricing, operations and how they relate to, and impact true profitability
• Ability to manage critical business data in a confidential manner
• Appreciation of and understanding of the legal implications of this role through legislative and regulatory knowledge.
Other Qualifications or Experience
• Attention to detail
• Strong negotiating and supplier management skills
• Experience buying products from manufacturers and major international brands
• Experience developing strong supplier relationships
• Ability to construct product ranges to meet a varied customer base requirements
• Ability to project plan the introduction of new products and resourcing existing lines.
• Strong numeracy skills, the ability to manipulate and present data
• Ability to successfully deliver multiple projects simultaneously, Knowledge of the business supplies and services industry, Disability Confident
About Disability Confident A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.