With the support of the Commercial/ Category Director and/or Senior Category Manager, create and lead the business plan for allocated categories of responsibility to drive strategic & tactical growth of the categories to support the delivery of the budgeted sales and profit target.
Ready to take the next step in your category career with a business that genuinely understands and partners the building merchants industry?
At STARK, one of Northern Europe’s leading building materials distributors, we’re strengthening our commercial team and looking for Category Managers who know what it takes to support branches, deliver the right product ranges, and build strong supplier partnerships. If you enjoy getting under the skin of your categories, understand the realities of merchanting, and want to make a real impact, this could be the ideal next move.
We offer a supportive environment where your expertise is valued, along with a competitive salary, staff discount, life assurance and 34 days’ holiday (including bank holidays). You’ll also have clear opportunities to grow your career within a progressive, branch-focused organisation.
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What you’ll be doing
Working closely with the Commercial/Category Director and Senior Category Manager, you’ll lead the business plan for the plumbing and heating categories – shaping strategy, driving sales and margin, and ensuring branches have all the products needed to do the job.
This role is central to how we serve our customers. You’ll be the “go-to” expert for P&H, influencing everything from supplier agreements to pricing, promotions, and product range development. We currently have vacancies across a number of categories would love to hear from you.
What you’ll bring
· Strong experience in category management or procurement within merchanting, construction products, or a related industry.
· A proven track record of building ranges that meet customer project needs and deliver budgeted commercial results.
· Confidence negotiating supplier terms based on facts, insight, and strong commercial judgement.
· A deep understanding of customer needs, market trends and competitor activity.
· Excellent analytical skills with the ability to turn data into clear, actionable plans.
· The ability to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
· Strong communication skills, able to engage stakeholders at every level—including presenting to board and supplier leadership.
· Determination, ownership, and accountability – always focused on delivering improvements for branches, customers, and suppliers.
· Good IT literacy across Microsoft applications and database systems.
· Willingness to support, coach and develop junior team members.
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Key Responsibilities
In this role, you will:
· Lead the 2–3-year category strategy, ensuring ranges deliver customer project requirements and meet sales and profit targets.
· Act as the first point of contact for all internal and external stakeholders on your categories.
· Negotiate and deliver supplier trading agreements aligned to group goals.
· Deliver clear reporting and insight on category performance, identifying opportunities to improve pricing, promotions, sales, and ranging.
· Understand and support STARK’s sustainability agenda, including responsible sourcing and category impact on emissions, packaging, and product circularity.
· Partner with STARK UK functions and local branches—helping them make great commercial decisions.
· Build strong relationships with suppliers and internal teams, adapting your approach to maximise collaboration and results.
· Support broader commercial projects and continuous improvement activities across the business.
· Role model safe, sustainable working practices.
What’s in it for you:
Discretionary bonus
A wide range of voluntary benefits including holiday buying, discounted gym membership, car salary sacrifice scheme, Cycle2Work, Benenden Healthcare and more.
Access to a wealth of health and wellbeing services including access to online GP appointments and mental health support
Generous employee discounts
Access to discounts with hundreds of your favourite high street and online retailers
Retirement savings plan
Life assurance
Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave for anyone expecting or adopting a child
Why STARK?
We're proud to be part of STARK Building Materials UK and dedicated to providing top-quality products and exceptional service to our customers. We're a friendly and collaborative team, passionate about what we do and committed to doing it well.
If you're ready to take your career to the next level and join a team that is dedicated to providing great service, we want to hear from you. Apply today!
What's next…
If your application is successful, our in-house recruitment team will be in touch to arrange an interview and to answer any initial questions you have.
Where a role is advertised as full-time, we are open to discussing part-time and job share options during the application process. If you require additional support as part of the application and interview process, we are happy to provide reasonable adjustments to help you to be at your best.
Stark Building Materials UK is a Ban the Box employer and will consider the suitability of applicants with criminal convictions on a case-by-case basis.
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Top Skills
What We Do
STARK Group is a leading business-to-business distributor of heavy building materials for the construction industry in Europe, with a strategic focus on serving professional builders.
STARK Group has a net sales of EUR 7 billion, operates in the UK, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway and employs more than 20,000 people.
The Group lives and breathes to serve professional craftsmen with heavy building materials all the way from the Austrian Alps to Tromsø, close to the Arctic circle and everywhere in between. We empower professional builders with insights, product knowledge and sound advice, as well as advise suppliers about market developments and customer feedback.
STARK Group is aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2050 across the entire business, is a signatory to the UN Global Compact, and works within fully validated science-based targets to keep global warming below 1.5°C
