Category Director

Category Director (Cables & Connectors)

Location:

UK (Corby or Manchester) or Germany (Frankfurt). Hybrid working.

A great opportunity to join our Product & Supplier Management department, lead a major category area, and a team of 14 category management professionals with an awesome track record of delivering brilliantly! P&SM at RS is a great place to build on your career, and support others with their development journey. So if you have the passion and energy to make amazing things happen, we would love to talk to you!

The Category Director is accountable for developing the category strategy/business plan aligned with group, regional and local stakeholders enabling targeted profitable growth, customer acquisition and ROI in addition to effective supplier management through delivery of the best in class regional offer for our customers. The strategy defines and details the regional supplier portfolio, product range and growth initiatives. The category strategy and business plans are developed collaboratively with key stakeholders across the business.

Most importantly this incorporates support of local go-to-market strategies, e.g. focus on specific industry verticals and local hero brands. The category strategy and business plans are developed collaboratively with key stakeholders across the business. It defines and details the regional supplier portfolio, product range and growth initiatives. It is also the foundation for plans and execution of supplier management and other related functions.

Alongside the development and execution of the aligned Category strategy, the Category Director is accountable for delivering the budgeted category revenue and margin performance of the category whilst maintaining the relevant stock metrics (stock turn, inventory holding and provision management).

Supporting their team in optimising the commercial terms from each supplier managed within the category, usually linked to regional initiatives that rely on supplier support. The Category Director also leads the development of senior / C‑suite relationships with the most important and strategic suppliers, facilitating strategic partnerships to optimise joint business growth and provide a point of escalation to defuse any conflict.

They should also support the development of relationships of RS leadership with their supplier equivalents.

• Accountable for the people management of the category team, supporting their personal development and coaching to optimise their portfolio and supplier management execution against the strategy.
• Ensures high potential talent is identified and supported with corresponding personal development plan. Succession plans in place for the category to support smooth transition as key individuals progress.
• Defines KPIs and category priorities for the team with associated objectives and review cycle.
• Takes the lead in managing the cross functional category leadership team supporting the E2E teams and maintaining alignment around the holistic category strategy. This provides a point of escalation for the end-to-end "cell" teams and facilitates removing blockers that are preventing execution of the strategy.

• Achieving budgeted category revenue, margin and stock turn targets for the Category.
• Executing on aligned category strategy supporting the region's and markets' go to market strategies.
• Achieving agreed targets for regional initiatives reflected in the regional budget (e.g. Direct Procurement).
• Market share growth for Strategic and Key suppliers and for the category as a whole.
• Achieving rebate and marketing funding targets for the Category.
• Executing agreed NPI plan for Category and delivering budgeted NPI revenue.
• Effective alignment and management of the E2E category team to achieve all cross functional E2E KPIs.
• Supporting growth and development of top talent within the Category and subsequent execution of the succession plan to ensure continuity.
• Develop a digital mindset within the team to make better business decisions

• Help shape the strategic direction for the region through offering insight at a category level, informed by…