Join a Leading Timber & Builders’ Merchant**
Haldane Fisher is a well-established and respected timber and builder’s merchant, known for innovation, quality, and excellent customer service.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a forward-thinking company that values its people and offers a stable role with consistent hours and a supportive working environment.
Job Purpose
The Category Commercial Manager is responsible for driving the commercial performance of the Timber Division’s Panel product category through effective purchasing, supplier management, pricing, stock control and category development. The role will take ownership of category profitability, ensuring the business has the right products, sourced from the right suppliers, at competitive costs and with appropriate stock availability. Working closely with the wider Timber procurement team, sales, operations, finance and suppliers, the role holder will identify growth opportunities, strengthen margins, manage commercial risk and develop category plans that support the division’s revenue, working-capital and strategic objectives.
The role will be primarily based in Newry and will combine office-based work with regular travel to Timber Division and Branch Network locations, engagement across operational, supplier, sales and customer environments, and attendance at meetings, trade exhibitions, supplier/customer events or other activities, which may take place outside normal office hours.
Commercial and Category Management
- Take ownership of the commercial performance of assigned Panel Product and Timber product categories, including sales, gross margin, stock turn and profitability.
- Develop and deliver category plans aligned with divisional revenue, margin and growth objectives.
- Analyse sales, margin, customer and market data to identify commercial opportunities and areas requiring corrective action.
- Set and maintain competitive selling-price structures in collaboration with sales leadership.
- Support branch and sales teams with product, pricing and market guidance.
- Monitor competitor activity, market trends and changes in customer demand.
Purchasing and Supplier Management
Source timber-based products at the optimum combination of quality, availability, specification and total cost
Negotiate supplier pricing, rebates, payment terms, lead times and supply agreements.
Build strong, commercially productive relationships with existing and prospective suppliers
Review supplier performance against agreed service, quality, cost and delivery standards.
Identify and develop alternative sources of supply to improve resilience and reduce risk.
Coordinate supplier meetings, product reviews and contract negotiations.
Stock and Supply
Establish and review appropriate stockholding parameters by product, location and demand profile.
Work with operations and branch teams to improve stock availability while minimising excess, obsolete and slow-moving stock.
Review forecasts, purchase commitments, lead times and incoming shipments.
Develop action plans for clearance, discontinued and underperforming product lines.
Balance customer-service requirements with working-capital and stock-turn objectives.
Product and Market Development
- Identify opportunities to introduce new products, ranges and value-added services.
- Prepare commercial business cases for new-product introductions and supplier changes.
- Manage the product lifecycle from sourcing and launch through to review or discontinuation.
- Work with sales and marketing teams to develop product propositions, campaigns and launch plans.
- Maintain accurate product, technical, pricing and supplier information.
Governance and Reporting
Produce regular reports on sales, margin, purchasing performance, stock, supplier performance and category profitability.
Ensure purchasing activity complies with company policies, delegated authority levels and contractual requirements.
Support responsible sourcing, certification and regulatory compliance across the timber supply chain.
Maintain awareness of commodity prices, currency movements, freight costs and other factors affecting landed cost.
Contribute to annual budgets, forecasts and commercial planning.
Cross-functional Leadership
Work closely with sales, operations, finance, logistics, technical and marketing colleagues across the Timber Division.
Communicate supplier, pricing, availability and market developments clearly across the business.
Provide commercial support for major quotations, contracts and strategic customer opportunities.
Lead category reviews and ensure that agreed actions are implemented by the relevant teams.
What you'll bring
We'd love to hear from you if you have:
Essential
- Proven commercial, purchasing, procurement or management experience within a product-led B2B environment.
- Demonstrable experience of negotiation skills and relationship management.
- Strong understanding of pricing, gross margin, landed cost, stock turn, working capital and category profitability.
- Experience of analysing sales, margin, stock, supplier and market data to support commercial decisions.
- Excellent negotiation, influencing and relationship-building skills.
- Commercially astute, numerate and confident preparing forecasts, budgets and business cases.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience using ERP, purchasing or stock-management systems.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, take ownership and deliver against deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to work effectively with suppliers, customers and senior stakeholders.
- Collaborative and approachable, with the ability to build trust and work effectively across sales, operations, finance and supply-chain teams.
- Resilient, adaptable and calm under pressure, with a practical approach to changing commercial priorities.
- Proactive and solutions-focused, demonstrating sound judgement, initiative and accountability.
- Detail-oriented and well organised, while retaining a clear view of wider commercial objectives.
- Customer-focused, with the confidence to challenge constructively and make balanced commercial decisions.
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly across Timber Division locations and to supplier meetings.
Desirable
- Experience within timber, construction, building materials, manufacturing, distribution or another technical product sector.
- Knowledge of timber products, grades, specifications, certification and responsible-sourcing requirements.
- Relevant qualification in business, supply chain, procurement, finance or a related discipline.
- CIPS qualification or active progress towards professional procurement accreditation.
- Experience of international sourcing, import procedures, foreign currency exposure and freight-cost management.
- Experience of introducing new product ranges and managing products through their commercial lifecycle.
- Experience leading cross-functional category reviews or commercial improvement projects.
ABOUT HALDANE GROUP
A proud, family-owned business with big ambitions, founded in 1946, we've spent nearly eight decades becoming one of the UK's top ten builders merchants.
Operating through multiple specialist brands across Northern Ireland, we're more than just suppliers - we're partners to the trade.
At Haldane Group we help customers build with confidence through trusted products and expert advice, powered by people you can rely on.
You'll be part of one of the largest independent builders' merchants across Northern Ireland, GB and the Isle of Man , supplying the trade and self-builders with expert advice and everything they need.
What Sets Us Apart:
- Top 10 UK builders merchant with strong local presence
- Multiple specialist brands serving different market segments
- Industry leadership through BMF board-level involvement
- Ambitious growth plans including strategic acquisitions
- Investment in people, technology, and innovation
- 700+ employees across Northern Ireland
- Deep roots in local communities
Our Values: We're built on expertise, relationships, and service. We know our products, we understand our customers, and we deliver on our promises.
Join us in shaping the future of building materials supply.
The Company
*Haldane Group is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.*
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