Senior Category Manager – OTC

Are you ready to join a company that’s thriving in the face of challenges? While many UK retailers are navigating tough times, Holland & Barrett is experiencing remarkable double-digit growth year-on-year. Our success story is built on our diversified international markets, the expansion of our digital offerings, and our dedication to educating customers about their wellbeing. As more people become engaged with their personal health, we’re leading the way in making a positive impact.

We have a fantastic opportunity to join us as aSenior Category Manager – OTC, you’ll own and drive the growth of this emerging category at H&B. With full P&L responsibility, you’ll lead supplier negotiations, establish strategic partnerships, and develop a winning category strategy across product, pricing, promotions, and channels. Your focus will be on driving revenue, innovation, and profitability while increasing customer awareness and unlocking new opportunities for the business.

The Role:

Key Responsibilities:

Develop and execute the category strategy for the new OTC category, setting a strategic growth plan with the Category Director, leading the sourcing and development of ranges that meet customer requirements and company objectives.
Lead supplier negotiations and joint business planning with key strategic partners to maximize profitability and ensure suppliers meet requirements on margin, marketing support, and delivery performance.
Work closely with the customer and insight team to analyse H&B, industry and consumer trends, to inform product selection and category strategy.
Work closely with the Digital team to understand customer behaviour online and tailor trade plan and marketing activity to drive revenue, conversion, and repeat purchase.
Continuously review current Category performance across Retail and Digital as well as the emerging Online marketplace to drive profitable growth ahead of the market.
Collaborate with the marketing team to build an annual ‘always on’ campaign. Maximize the success of promotional activities and new product launches
Work closely with the planning team to manage stock levels effectively, working to reduce overstocks and slow-moving inventory
Be responsible for negotiating and delivering fixed funding across the VHMS supply base, be focused on reducing working capital and managing cost to hit the VHMS EBITDA target.
Be confident and motivated to cover for the Category Director at WTR meetings, Strategy engagement & Strategic supplier meetings internally and externally.

Location:

This role is based in Nuneaton, and may be occasionally required to travel to our London Hub or to any other location of H&B. We support flexibility and productivity of our employees by hybrid working arrangements with minimum 2 days presence in the office.

The Person:

Key Requirements:

Previous experience in a Buying or Category Management role specifically looking after OTC in a large retailer
Knowledge and understanding of P&L ownership & Budgeting
Demonstrable Industry expertiseof OTC and Category Management
Experience of sourcing product and developing Own Brand ranges as well as negotiating Branded listings
Knowledge and understanding of working with Supply chain and planning teams optimising stock management
Proven history of growing categories within the OTC sector
Knowledge of OTC and the supply base
Strong analytical abilities to identify trends and set up P&L analysis
Experience in developing and implementing successful customer driven category strategies
Ability to build and maintain relationships with suppliers and internal multi-disciplinary teams
Experience managing OTC seasonal range
Experience in management of suppliers

What we offer:

Our Benefits for this role include, but not limited to:

H&B Employee Discount – 25%
Bonus
Pension company contribution
33 Days Holiday per year (Inclusive of bank holidays)
Private Medical Care
Exclusive benefits, free advice and savings from a range of retailers and providers
Electric Car Scheme

We’re passionate about helping every colleague thrive across all dimensions of wellbeing, and we’re committed to having a diverse and inclusive workplace. In line with our EPIC values (Expertise, Pioneering, Inclusive, Caring), we embrace and actively celebrate all our colleagues’ unique and varying experiences, backgrounds, identities and cultures – I am me, we are H&B.

Holland & Barrett does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms/recruiters. Please do not forward resumes to our job alias, employees, or any other company location. Holland & Barrett is not and will not be responsible for any fees if a candidate submitted by a search firm/recruiter unless otherwise agreed with respect to specific open position(s).

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