Category Manager

When it comes to performance, skills and experience don’t tell the whole story. They only tell us what to do in known, predictable, and contextual situations. 

We look for attributes as they tell us how you behave in all situations, particularly unknown, challenging, or stressful ones when you can’t apply your learnt skills.

We have big ambitions, and we need people who work here to have big ambitions too.

To achieve our growth plans we need talented and driven people who are curious and comfortable with uncertainty and step outside their comfort zone to learn and try new things.

If you're the kind of person who rolls up your sleeves and gets stuck in, we want to hear from you!

Watch to find out what it takes to be successful and build a better career at MSC.

Requisition ID : 19141 

Employment Type : Full Time

Job Category : Supply Chain

Work Location : Wednesbury, UK 

Potential Work Location : United Kingdom : England : Wednesbury || United Kingdom : England : West Midlands 

As a Category Manager with MSC, you will play a critical role in shaping the future of our business by bringing our Category strategy to life. You’ll develop strong relationships with industry-leading suppliers and deliver innovative solutions to meet the ever-changing needs and behaviors of our customers. 

The Category Management team is evolving to establish an industry-leading range of products and solutions, led by an exceptional team. This team is critically important to the continued success of MSC. 

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? At MSC, we offer more than just a job—we provide opportunities to grow and develop, helping you build a rewarding career. Great businesses need great people, that’s where you come in! 

What’s in it for you? 

Autonomy to shape your role and develop your career with continuous access to coaching, mentoring, and an environment where success is celebrated.  Discounts and rewards across popular brands—whether it’s a getaway, cashback on essentials, or shopping for a special occasion.  25 days holiday + Bank Holidays + Paid birthday leave, company pension matched up to 10%, life insurance (6x annual salary), discounted health cash plan, and private medical insurance among others. 

What will you be doing? 

You will have full accountability for the category strategy and performance of a unique range of products. Your role will include: 

Drive Category Growth  Develop and execute category growth plans that align with overall business objectives.  Collaborate with suppliers, marketing, and sales to deliver new product introductions and joint strategies for key customers.  Negotiate supplier agreements to secure commercial terms that support growth and profitability.  Enhance Category Profitability  Build strong partnerships with suppliers to optimize portfolio mix and improve margin performance.  Work cross-functionally with Supply Chain and Finance to maintain healthy stock levels and cost efficiency.  Identify and implement initiatives that strengthen pricing strategies and protect gross profit.  Delivering Data-Driven Product Excellence  Ensure all new products meet data and content standards for digital and offline channels.  Partnerwith suppliers and internal teams to maintain a robust roadmap for product innovation.  Align supply, demand, and product positioning through collaboration with key stakeholders. 

Additional Responsibilities 

Research and qualify new suppliers aligned with category strategy; onboard them and their products.  Build strategic partnerships to identify opportunities that drive mutual sales growth.  Support product lifecycle management to ensure customers can find and buy the latest solutions.  Use data insights to monitor category performance and inform future decisions.  Negotiate commercial agreements to generate cost savings and improve profit margins.  Optimize product visibility across digital and offline channels.  Evaluate product range, pricing, and services relative to competitors to keep MSC ahead. 

What do you need? 

We’ll teach you role-specific skills, but to thrive at MSC you’ll need: 

Connections: Strong interpersonal skills to manage relationships effectively.  Thinking: Problem-solving ability, agility, and a growth mindset.  Creativity: Adaptability and innovation in creating solutions.  Drive: Ambition, energy, and enthusiasm to deliver results. 

If you can operate effectively in a team, demonstrate customer-centricity, and are eager to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you—apply today! 

Why MSC?

The journey to the best version of yourself starts with us. If you’re searching for an employer that will enable you to learn, grow and make a difference, you’ve found it.

You will feel a sense of purpose and belonging as we allow our people to have a voice and the opportunity to make a genuine impact.

We have created a psychologically safe and inclusive environment where we treat our associates as adults and give them autonomy to make decisions, take risks and learn from mistakes.

You will be encouraged to challenge the norm, make decisions and take ownership to make changes, enabling you to significantly contribute towards our business success.

Our people-centric culture will encourage you to continuously develop, both professionally and personally.

From our culture to our forward-thinking leadership, you’ll soon realise that you have an incredible opportunity here to be your best self.

Whether your career path is vertical or squiggly we’d love to watch you grow and reach your full potential with us.

Watch to find out what it’s like to work at MSC and join us as we continue to build a team of people doing their best work

We won’t just give you a job, we’ll enable you to be yourself, discover opportunity, unlock your potential, and design your career.