Hybrid working - based within commutable distance of Northampton
Toolstation, part of the Travis Perkins Group is one of the UK’s fastest growing retailers with a wave of impressive sales and a record breaking year. But we’re not resting on our laurels. Our Trade and DIY customers are working smarter and we need to be agile in how we serve them and that means scaling fast and leading the transformation to become a customer first, omni channel retailer, integrating online, mobile and physical store channels to offer a seamless customer experience. We will continue to challenge and disrupt the market and our talented Trade Category team are at the forefront of our success, through relentlessly identifying and implementing product, price and promotional opportunities.
Reporting to a Senior Category Manager, you’ll support our Landscaping category with a laser focus on Trade customers. You’ll support the team to drive convenience, service, range, availability and value across seasonal and project-led landscaping needs, while delivering a best-in-market customer experience. You’ll collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, digital, supply chain and retail to ensure we offer a compelling and reliable proposition for trade professionals, helping us achieve our ambition of becoming a £1 billion retailer.
You will be responsible for strategic market and competitor reviews within the landscaping sector, range planning and optimisation, supplier selection (including sourcing specialist and heavy-side materials), route-to-market decisions (in collaboration with supply chain), cost of goods calculations, supplier Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and ongoing supplier and category performance management.
Strategy and Planning: Propose, define, and implement product category strategies—covering ranging, brand proposition, supplier selection, pricing, trading margin, and route to market—ensuring alignment with overall business objectives.
Customer Proposition: Accountable for developing and executing specific category plans, informed by internal and external insight, to deliver the best overall customer proposition.
Commercial Performance: Deliver the category budget for sales and margin. This includes monitoring trading performance and developing/executing action plans to achieve the plan.
Profitability and Sourcing: Accountable for delivering a product range that offers the optimum balance of quality and value, growing sales profitably. Deliver margin/Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) improvements through supplier trading terms negotiations, group synergy projects, and common/direct sourcing programs.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Execute brilliant commercial projects across the business by effectively collaborating with internal stakeholders, including stores, trade teams, and marketing, on areas like promotional plans and optimised range strategy.
People Management: Manage, lead and coach a Category Assistant , providing clear objectives, guidance on priorities, and the right environment for personal development and skills growth.
With proven experience managing a landscaping category within a fast-paced, omni-channel retailer, you’ll bring excellent negotiation and influencing skills. You’ll be confident in your ability to analyse and interpret information from a variety of sources, using these insights to drive range, pricing and promotional decisions that maximise commercial success.
You’ll also have:
Commercial Retail experience: Ideally in Trade and DIY but we will also consider people from other fast paced retail sectors. You've a proven record in understanding and delivering exceptional performance in a similar role, making timely, winning decisions.
Skills: Strong analytical capability, commercial acumen, supplier management, range development, and the ability to deliver projects through cross-functional teams. Must have strong negotiation, leadership, and persuasive interpersonal skills.
Ability to learn quickly: Understands customer requirements and can quickly build knowledge of products, and competitors within the building industry.
Attributes: Customer focused, confident, flexible to changing demands, and able to work at pace. You must be driven, enthusiastic, and possess a continuous improvement outlook, taking ownership for actions and managing your workload.
You’ll find every opportunity to be yourself and to bring your personality and potential to work. You’ll find a business where you can develop a fulfilling career, wherever you want – up the ladder or across the group. You’ll also be rewarded with a competitive salary and benefits commensurate with the role, contributory pension, BAYE and SAYE schemes, life assurance and discounts off Travis Perkins businesses and a range of other affiliate partners.
Toolstation. The story so far
We’re one of Britain’s fastest growing multi-channel retailers of tools, accessories and building supplies and an integral part of Travis Perkins plc. The trade, home improvers and self-builders all trust us to deliver a lot more than tools. Our store expansion programme and the size and diversity of our Group, means we always have opportunities for ambitious people who want to grow with us.
To apply
Caught your interest? Want to know more? Take a look at www.toolstationjobs.com or simply hit apply
Our policy is to employ the best qualified people and provide equal opportunity for the advancement of employees including promotion and training and not to discriminate against any person because of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion, belief or disability
