Manager - Category Management

As a Manager - Category Management, you are expected to own and deliver the end-to-end category strategy, driving profitable growth, market share expansion, and supplier value creation. This role leads commercial, digital, and data-driven decision-making across the category, ensuring alignment with customer needs, market trends, and business objectives.

You will act as the P&L owner for the category, shaping strategy across pricing, assortment, supplier partnerships, and go-to-market execution, while leveraging data,and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities:

Category Strategy & P&L Ownership

• Develop and execute a 3–5 year category strategy aligned to regional and global business goals
• Own full category performance: revenue, margin, growth, and profitability targets
• Identify and prioritise growth opportunities through market analysis, customer insights, and competitive positioning

Data-Driven Commercial Management

• Leverage data analytics and insights (e.g. Power BI, dashboards, market data) to optimize: 
  • Pricing and margin performance
  • Product lifecycle and assortment
  • Supplier spend and mix
• Drive forecasting accuracy and pipeline visibility across the category
• Translate insights into clear, actionable commercial decisions

Supplier Strategy & Strategic Partnerships

• Lead strategic supplier relationships, including executive engagement and joint business planning
• Negotiate commercial agreements (pricing, rebates, contracts) to maximize long-term value
• Drive supplier performance through structured reviews, KPIs, and continuous improvement plans

Go-to-Market & Demand Generation

• Lead category-led go-to-market strategy in partnership with Sales and Marketing
• Develop targeted campaigns, promotions, and value propositions
• Equip sales teams with clear positioning, pricing logic, and competitive differentiation

Sustainability & Regulatory Compliance

• Embed sustainability and regulatory requirements (e.g. packaging, ESG, compliance) into category strategy
• Collaborate with suppliers to improve product sustainability and transparency
• Ensure readiness for evolving regulatory frameworks (e.g. EU requirements)

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, coach, and develop category team members (where applicable)
• Influence senior stakeholders across Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, and Marketing
• Act as the category expert and internal thought leader

Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree - Business, Sales, Marketing or relevant field required; Masters Degree preferred 
• 5 years of success maintaining and developing key relationships
• 2 years People management and/or product category management experience
• Previous experience in electrical distribution market 
• Proven ability to influence cross functional teams 
• Analytical and detail oriented 
• Excellent business and financial acumen 
• 5 years in Category Management, Product Management, or Commercial roles
• Proven track record of delivering profitable growth and commercial outcomes 
• Strong experience in supplier negotiation and contract management
• Background in distribution, electrical, industrial, power or B2B sectors preferred
• This is a hybrid role and 2-3 days/week office presence is preferred. 
• This role requires travelling upto 25%. 
• Business level proficiency with English is preferred. German is an advantage.

#LI-AJ1