Category Manager

About the Company:

IronmongeryDirect is the UK's largest online supplier of ironmongery.

Overview and scope of the job role:

The Category Manager is responsible for planning and developing specific product ranges to meet the needs of our target customers. This includes managing the product throughout the product lifecycle, gathering and prioritising product and customer requirements, defining the product vision and working closely with the purchasing department and suppliers to deliver winning products.

It also includes working with the Digital team, Contact Centre, Marketing and Purchasing Departments to ensure revenue, profitability and customer satisfaction goals are met.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities:

• Deliver the relevant budgeted sales and margin contribution for the product ranges
• Define the product strategy and roadmap
• Present business cases for product range developments
• Introduce new product ranges within the given timescales differentiating between the IronmongeryDirect customer requirements
• Develop the core positioning and messaging for the product
• Source new products
• Negotiate terms and cost pricing with suppliers
• Project manage the introduction of new product ranges
• Merchandise products through the catalogue and web site to achieve maximum product performance
• Be an expert with respect to the competition
• Be an expert with respect to the supplier base
• Conduct product range reviews to increase profitability and efficiency of the product range
• Monitor, analyse and report product range performance statistics
• Utilise Google Analytics and work with the Digital team to implement actions to improve conversion rates
• Set competitive pricing and meet revenue and profitability goals
• Develop sales tools for the Contact Centre
• Provide product briefings to the Contact Centre
• Work with the marketing department to develop product launch and product marketing plans
• Develop product management workflow and processes

Skills and experience:

• Minimum of 2 years' experience as a Product Manager or Category Manager
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent teamwork skills
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams
• Strong ability to analyses data, draw conclusions and set strategic actions

Health and Safety

The jobholder must familiarise themselves with the Company's Health and Safety requirements, the applicable risk assessments and safe working practices.

If any hazard is encountered in the place of work it is the individual's responsibility to notify his manager/supervisor or Health and Safety representative.

The jobholder is responsible for his/her own safety and the safety of others in the workplace. Personal Protective Equipment is freely available upon request and it is the duty of the jobholder to wear PPE as determined by the company in the designated areas.

If the jobholder has any doubts about the safety of any task it is the jobholder's responsibility to STOP the work and agree a safe working practice with his/her manager.