Category Assistant

Our portfolio of products returns over £45m in sales per annum and due to **maternity cover** we’re now recruiting a **Category Assistant** to join our team for an initial period of 6 months, during a period of transformational change and **sustained growth**. Are you a confident communicator, with excellent attention to detail? Are you skilled in **Buying or Product Management?** Are you proficient in all things range assortment, pricing, product performance and product quality? Comfortable negotiating prices with strong supplier management skills? Do you have drop ship experience? Can you multi-task with the ability to work with numerous different products? Then we want to hear from you. You will work closely with a Category Manager and will have the opportunity to grow your career as the business grows.

**Main responsibilities**:

- Working closely with the Category Manager to identify new product opportunities across stocked and dropship products from existing and new suppliers
- Carry out regular range reviews to identify opportunities to develop or rationalise ranges
- Manage slow moving and obsolete stock
- Work with Pricing Team to ensure ranges are competitive in the market
- Ensure sales and margin targets met in accordance with annual budget forecasts
- Identification of cost down opportunities across existing and new suppliers in the UK, Europe and Far East
- Optimisation of web content to include copy, images and supporting information
- Investigate QC issues raised by the Warehouse or Customer Services team
- Assist Customer Services and Business Services with product specification enquiries
- Attend regular meetings with the wider Ecommerce and Marketing teams to identify opportunities or trends that require action

**What we’re looking for in you**:

- The role is largely computer based, so computer skills are essential along with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
- Previous experience in a buying or product management role would be an advantage
- Adaptable and keen to progress
- Ability to work both independently and as part of the team
- A team player with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels as well as building relationships externally with supply partners
- Good organisational and numerical skills, with an analytical mind with high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Commercially focused with the ability to engage customers

**This is a fixed term contract, covering maternity for an initial period of 6 months (with the possibility to extend). The role is on a hybrid remote basis based at our Bristol Road, Gloucester office and also working from home.**

**What we can offer you**:
We want you to love working here, so as well as an amazing role with the opportunity to grow with the business, we are offering flexible/hybrid working, a highly competitive salary, with the potential to earn a great bonus plus a contributory (salary sacrifice) pension scheme and 23 days’ holiday (plus bank holidays and your Birthday).

**Job Types**: Full-time, Fixed term contract

**Salary**: From £24,500.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Additional leave
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Flexitime
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Store discount
- Work from home

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Flexitime
- Holidays
- Monday to Friday
- No weekends

Supplemental pay types:

- Bonus scheme
- Performance bonus
- Yearly bonus

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Gloucester: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work authorisation:

- United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Gloucester