Job Title: Category Manager
Location: Chester
Department: Purchasing
Responsible to: Head of Purchasing

Responsible for: Responsible for the strategic development and execution of plans to maximize sales and profitability within a specific product category by analysing market trends, managing supplier relationships, optimising Stock holding, supporting sales efforts and managing the range of products.

Summary of main purpose of the Job:
The purpose of a Category Manager is to act as a strategic leader for a designated product category. This involves comprehensive market analysis to identify growth opportunities, understand consumer behaviour, and assess competitor activities. The category manager is responsible for curating the product assortment within their category, selecting items based on profitability, demand, and supplier capabilities, while also establishing competitive pricing strategies that attract customers and maintain healthy margins. Crucially, they cultivate and manage relationships with suppliers, negotiating favourable terms and ensuring consistent product quality and availability. Effective inventory management, including demand forecasting and stock control, is essential to minimising waste and optimising operational efficiency. Furthermore, the category manager supports the sales team by providing product knowledge and resources, collaborates with marketing on promotional activities, and monitors category performance through key performance indicators. Ultimately, their success is measured by the growth in sales, profitability, and market share within their assigned category, achieved through strategic planning, effective execution, and strong collaborative efforts across the organisation.

Please send your CV to Josie.swift@harlech.co.uk

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