Buying Category Manager
Welcome Bonus!
We are keen to attract new talent who can make a difference in our workplace. This means that all candidates who are offered a role and go on to start in a permanent role with us, will receive a bonus of £750 gross (pro rata if part-time) in their first month's pay.
Why work for us?
Draper Tools is a family business with a rich history, a strong, supportive 'family culture' and a passion for continuous improvement. We believe everyone can make a difference, we value opinions, we embrace new ideas and take a collaborative and proactive approach to change. People enjoy working for us; one in seven employees have worked for Draper for more than 25 years!
We believe there are four key reasons why you should work for us:
We're a trusted brand: there is a reason why we've been in business for over 100 years and show no signs of slowing down.
We'll welcome you: work plays a significant part in all of our lives, so we've built a happy and inviting environment, full of friendly colleagues who are proud to work together.
We'll invest in you: our people are at the heart of everything we do. Which is why we're passionate about helping you reach your full potential. We build success together.
We'll value you: we love to recognise great work, so our benefits package has been designed to say "thank you" in more ways than one.
Benefits
As a Buying Category Manager your benefits will include:
- Full-time hours with some flexibility on start and finish time and possible hybrid working after an initial settling in period.
- Holidays rising to 25 days with the ability to purchase additional leave*
- Pension scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Private health scheme *
- Staff discount on Draper products with significant savings available
- Long service bonus *
- Ad-hoc rewards and recognition
- Day off for your birthday
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Employee discount scheme - discounts on gym memberships, groceries, holidays and more
- Free onsite parking
- After qualifying period
Job responsibilities
Working as a Buying Category Manager your role will include:
- Developing and managing a category plan that delivers profitable market share growth for the business.
- Identifying, sourcing, and delivering new products to enhance a specified product category, and full ranges where additional, new requirements are identified.
- Monitoring market trends and competitor strategies to help continually shape category development.
- Collaborating with our Sales and Marketing teams to identify new product opportunities.
- Identifying new manufacturer opportunities, from current and potential supplier contacts.
- Ensuring the ongoing requirements of the business regarding item and range quality, cost price, product benefits and features and item profitability are met.
- Working alongside QA departments both in the UK and Far East to ensure existing and new products are compliant with relevant UK/EU/International Standards and Directives.
- Recording and sharing full product/range details with other departments to ensure consistency of presentation, physically and online, not just within each sub-section but across the full Draper Tools product offering.
- Working alongside our Marketing department to design and proof product packaging and proofing of marketing and sales materials whilst adhering to the corporate Brand Guidelines.
- Working closely with Supply Chain and Sales colleagues to ensure company requirements for availability and stock-turn are met.
- Understanding the quality level and applications of products, being fully aware of the target end-user in each case.
Skills Required
- Healthy practical interest in tools and related technology
- Good knowledge and understand of our Draper product range
- Proven experience as a Buyer, Category Manager or similar
- CIPS or similar qualifications advantageous but not essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent, proven negotiation skills
- Maintain excellent working relationships with suppliers and immediate colleagues
- Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise a busy varied workload
- Team player
- Focus and motivated
- Flexible, open to change
- Excellent IT Skills (Inc. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Power BI)
- Good functional awareness of ERP and WMS systems
This role will require engagement with a large international supplier base and therefore global travel to visit factories, trade fairs and end user shows will be required.
About Company
If you are interested in this position, please click the link. This will direct you to our Applicant Tracking System where you will be able to apply for the role.
STRICTLY NO AGENCIES