Recruiting a Category Manager for a UK Leading Supplier of Health & Safety Workwear and workplace supplies. Ideally, with an understanding in the Gloves speciality, or previous experience in other safety wear, you will bring your skills and expertise, ensuring the highest standards of safety are met, quality, and cost-effectiveness. This role involves working closely with suppliers, internal teams, and other stakeholders to optimise the glove category, driving growth, innovation, and competitive advantage.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement a comprehensive category strategy for gloves within the PPE sector, aligning with company goals and market trends.
- Analyse market conditions, supplier landscape, and product innovations to identify opportunities for growth, cost savings, and risk mitigation.
- Set category objectives, KPIs, and performance targets in collaboration with senior management.
- Plan own workload well, setting goals, timelines and milestones as appropriate.
Category / Product Management
- Sourcing, selection, benchmarking and due diligence of products and suppliers
- Manage new product introduction process
- Managing the performance of suppliers & factories
- Consolidation of range and suppliers
- Analysis and return of excess/obsolete stock
- Develop Exclusive Brand products to meet the needs of the business customer portfolio
Analysis and administration
- Maintain key supplier information including contract details, pricing, product specifications, unit of measure and lead times
- Researching market trends and identifying new products and suppliers Ensuring that all allocated pricing and invoice queries are dealt with in a timely fashion
- Develop Category Strategy in line with business needs
- Where applicable ensure that all allocated enquiries and tenders are returned in a timely fashion in order to put the company in the best position to secure the business.
- Ensure all necessary reports are produced for all meetings and all communication is carried out effectively and in a timely manner
Procurement & Inventory Management
- Lead the procurement process for gloves, including forecasting demand, placing orders, and managing inventory levels to avoid stockouts or excess inventory.
- Collaborate with logistics and warehouse teams to ensure timely and efficient delivery of products.
- Monitor market prices and trends to anticipate cost changes and adjust procurement strategies accordingly.
Negotiation & Contract Management
- Negotiation of all pricing, rebates, marketing agreements, catalogue contributions and early payment discounts
Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure all glove products meet relevant safety and quality standards, including ISO, OSHA, and other applicable regulations
- Develop and implement risk management strategies to address potential supply chain disruptions, product recalls, or regulatory changes
Stakeholder Relationships
- Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with key internal stakeholders including sales, marketing, inventory, quality control and customer service to ensure customer fulfilment is maximised
- Demonstrates a desire to understand supplier needs, listens to what they are saying, and demonstrates awareness of their goals. Manages supplier's contractual requirements, requests and concerns quickly and efficiently. Maintains and protects current supplier relationships. Monitors and manages supplier service performance against objectives.
- Interact with customers at all levels of seniority ensuring the business commercial interests are protected
Key Requirements:
- Strong technical knowledge of PPE Gloves or other product areas of Health & Safety Workwear
- Previous experience in category management, procurement, or supply chain within the PPE or Hygiene & Cleaning industry
- Highly positive with a 'can do' mindset
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make strategic decisions
- IT Proficient across Microsoft suite
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make strategic decision
- Detail-oriented with strong organisational skills
- Excellent negotiation skills. Where communication and relationship management is key
- Strong commercial acumen, understanding global currencies and market trends
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- CIPS qualified or equivalent
- Experience in Construction, Site Supplies, or affiliated categories would be advantageous
Full Time Hours: 37.5hrs, Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. Primarily office-based with occasional travel to suppliers, trade shows, and other industry events. An opportunity to work 1 or 2 days from home after training.