Category Manager - Indirect

N Brown – who we are and why work for us?  

At N Brown, we’re committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment that values equality for all. Our vision is that by ‘championing inclusion, we’ll become the most loved and trusted fashion retailer’. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are, therefore, at the heart of our culture.

We’re a forward-thinking digital retailer with a financial services proposition to be proud of. We’re customer-obsessed, serving them through three core brands: JD Williams, Simply Be, and Jacamo. We’re experienced, with over 160 years of trading under our belt. We’re inclusive, as we believe in fashion without boundaries; and we’re sustainable, striving to make as little impact on the planet as possible.

The role

As a Category Manager – Indirect at N Brown, you’ll drive value from sourcing processes and commercial negotiation to ensure the most suitable solution is achieved; enabling us to delight our internal and external customers. ​

You’ll align the creation and continual review of robust, forward looking plans for third party suppliers and their contracts. Using a full range of supply and demand levers, to identify opportunities that deliver tangible value to our business.

Operating with a governance and risk management mindset and facilitating Supplier Relationship Management with business stakeholders, as a Category Manager you’ll review spend within your remit, and in conjunction with stakeholders, you’ll be responsible for creating a log of opportunities and a forward looking plan of how workload and opportunities will be managed.

Our Category Managers facilitate the P2P process from supplier onboarding through to payment, working closely with stakeholders such as Accountants, Budget Holders, Directors and Administrators as well as Supplier Relationship Managers for the ongoing management of strategic and critical suppliers in remit. 

What’s in it for you?  

• 24 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays) with the option to buy an additional 10 days
• Annual bonus scheme
• Enhanced maternity and adoption leave
• Access to Apricity, a self-funding IVF benefit at a reduced rate
• Company pension with up to 8% N Brown contribution
• Mental Health support both internally and externally, including access to our wellbeing champions and counselling services
• A range of financial wellbeing support
• Colleague discount across all N Brown brands
• Onsite café with subsidised rates and local restaurant discounts!
• Life Assurance and Private Medical Insurance
• Paid volunteer time – all our colleagues can take a full day paid to volunteer for a charity of their choice
• Salary of £40,000-£45,000 dependant on experience

 What will you do as a Category Manager – Indirect at N Brown?

• You’ll develop and continually review robust, forward looking plans in collaboration with Category Lead and business stakeholders to address business needs, supply market dynamics and technological advancements.
• You’ll work with stakeholders to consider a variety of commercial models, providing constructive challenge to drive the most appropriate business outcome.
• You’ll closely manage contracts and suppliers within remit to align to the Category plan, the Category Manager shares insights with the business and drives reviews; and acts where opportunities and risks appear.
• You’ll deliver support to Supplier Relationship Managers and ensuring compliance with the organisational SRM policy
• You’ll collaborate with the relevant business stakeholders to determine contract KPI’s & SLA’s that are relevant and capable of effective measurement for supplier performance and relationship management.
• You’ll work with commercial finance to record cost reductions and cost avoidance.
• You’ll contribute to the creation of category pipeline of initiatives to achieve or exceed savings targets, or to mitigate on cost.
• You’ll lead negotiations with suppliers and partners to realise cost efficiency opportunities and negotiate commercial terms and contracts, closely aligned with stakeholders.
• Working with agility when priorities change.

What skills and experience will you have?  

• You’ll have a minimum of 4 years Indirect Procurement experience across various categories or relevant category
• You’ll have experience of working in a Category led team preferred
• You’ll have technical skills to deliver in role including use of e-Procurement and P2P systems.
• You’ll demonstrate superior relationship building within the business, with supplier and partners and the wider category markets.
• You’ll be an accomplished negotiator and influencer at a Senior Leadership level (both internal and external).
• You’ll be a strong communicator, adapting style and approach appropriate to the audience.  
• You’ll be numerate with strong commercial acumen to identify and evaluate opportunities.
• Degree or CIPS preferred but not a requirement

Our promise to you:  

We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

What happens when you apply to a role at N Brown?  

As soon as we receive your application, we’ll send you an email to let you know. We always aim to come back to you as soon as possible with an update and we really appreciate you taking the time to apply for a role with us. Good luck!