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. The role operates within a complex supply chain environment supporting industrial, OEM, construction, infrastructure, utilities, and energy markets, requiring strong engagement with global and regional manufacturers and partners. 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