Category Controller Harlow, Essex Full-time Office-based

The opportunity

This isn't your standard buying role. Our client isn't looking for someone to tick boxes or wait for sign-off. You'll be making the commercial calls that drive sales, setting sell-out prices that beat the competition and planning the promotional activity that keeps the business ahead week in, week out.

If you have the instinct to spot an opportunity and the confidence to act on it, this is the role you've been waiting for.

What you'll be doing

• Negotiating cost prices with suppliers to protect and grow margin
• Shaping and managing product ranges across your category
• Setting pricing and planning weekly promotional activity
• Monitoring competitor activity and market trends
• Forecasting category performance using data and Excel
• Working cross-functionally with marketing and commercial teams
• Executing promotions online and in-store

What we're looking for

• Experience in buying, selling or a similar commercial role
• Strong instinct for turning product decisions into sales
• Confidence negotiating with suppliers at all levels
• Comfort with Excel, pivot tables and data-led analysis
• Ability to manage competing priorities and move quickly
• Background in tools or hardware (desirable but not essential)
• Energy, initiative and a team-first mentality

The kind of person who thrives here

This is a fast-paced, close-knit team where personality matters as much as experience. You'll be full of energy, confident making decisions quickly and sharp enough commercially to turn buying decisions into real sales results.

To apply

Contact SRM Recruitment in confidence. All applications are handled discreetly and the client will remain anonymous at this stage.