Category Assistant – 12 Month FTC

Howdens Joinery
Howdens Joinery is looking for a Category Assistant to join the Commercial Department, supporting the Category Team to source and deliver market-leading range of products, enabling growth and profitability whilst providing a value-added service to the Depots. Based at our Howden Site and reporting to a Category Manager, we are looking for someone passionate about the product with the confidence to support and service UK depots. As an effective communicator, you will be experienced in building working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. What will I be doing? – Ensure strong commercial relationships between Howdens, the category supply base and internal stakeholders including Supply Chain, Demand Forecasting, Quality and Technical – Communicating with Depots to solve any queries through email or phone – Work closely with the Marketing team, including conducting proofing of any marketing materials – Prepare information for key internal and external meetings. Internally this includes Executive meetings, Regional Manager meetings, EXPO and Depot engagement sessions – Provide all the data, including collation and analysis of reports to shape decisions made by the team – Supporting the management of product ranges in line with the business commercial planning cycle – Project manage new product introduction (NPI) and sourcing activities – An awareness of the external market, including factors that impact any changes – Maintain and update purchasing data – Understand the needs of our customer (the builder), their customer and the depot, becoming a category expert What we are looking for: – CIPS accreditation is desirable but not essential – Proficient in Microsoft Excel – Excellent communication skills to build relationships with key stakeholders – Understanding key data systems – An interest in product and lifecycle management – Strong organisational skills with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment – Strong analytical skills with demonstrable commercial acumen and attention to detail What we offer: – Competitive salary and annual company bonus – Competitive Pension Plan with a maximum company contribution of 12% – 25 days holiday + bank holidays with the option to buy additional days – Free onsite car parking – Free lunch at our onsite canteen – Staff Discount – Exceptional Reward and Recognition events. About Howdens: Howdens Joinery is the UK’s number one trade kitchen supplier providing thousands of products across kitchens, joinery, and hardware. We have over 800 depots throughout the UK and Europe – making us the first choice for more than 460,000 loyal trade professionals. Last year our sales reached circa 2.1bn, and we have an ambitious growth agenda. There is a strong entrepreneurial ethos and the opportunity to develop within a fast-paced and commercial environment. That, along with a competitive salary, development opportunities, and exciting rewards, are among the reasons why our people enjoy working for Howdens – and why we have been named one of the 10 Best Big Companies to Work For. How to apply We’re building a future where world-class service, innovation, and sustainability are embedded within our DNA. If Howdens sounds like the kind of place where you can build and develop your career, then we’re keen to hear from you