Plumbing & Heating Category Manager

The IPG Limited; Littlehampton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading membership group for independent businesses seeks a Plumbing & Heating Category Manager to enhance supplier relationships and drive category success. This role includes strategic supplier management, contract negotiations, and collaboration with internal teams. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional negotiation skills and experience in category planning. This is an opportunity to significantly impact a dynamic organization in the Plumbing & Heating sector.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Excellent benefits

Opportunity for impact

Qualifications

• Proactive and strategic thinker.
• Experience in negotiation and relationship management.
• Strong analytical skills for data interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Build, maintain and enhance supplier partnerships.
• Lead negotiations for mutually beneficial agreements.
• Drive category strategies and analyze performance.
• Work closely with internal teams for category support.
• Support and develop own-branded propositions.

Skills

Negotiation and relationship management skills

Category planning and supplier evaluation

Analytical abilities

Collaborative approach

Job description

Exciting Opportunity: Plumbing & Heating Category Manager – Focus on Supplier Relationships and Strategy

Are you passionate about shaping strategic supplier partnerships and driving category success?
Join The IPG, the leading membership group for independent businesses in the Plumbing & Heating sector. Based on the South Coast in Littlehampton, we support over 200 member stores and showrooms nationwide with innovative solutions, strategic supplier collaborations, and industry‑leading advantages in sourcing, marketing, and IT.

This is not a traditional buying role. Instead, it’s an exciting opportunity to lead and optimise supplier relationships, negotiate impactful contracts, and influence the strategic direction of the Plumbing & Heating category as we enter a dynamic phase of growth.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Strategic Supplier Management: Build, maintain, and enhance supplier partnerships to maximise value for our members.


• Contract Negotiation: Lead negotiations to secure mutually beneficial agreements, ensuring alignment with our strategic goals.


• Category Development: Drive category strategies, analyse performance, and implement improvements for continued growth.


• Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams, including membership team, marketing and IT, to ensure seamless category support and execution.


• Innovation: Support & develop own‑branded propositions and innovative solutions tailored to our members’ needs.

What We’re Looking For

We need a proactive and strategic thinker with:

• Exceptional negotiation and relationship management skills.


• Proven expertise in category planning and supplier evaluation.


• Strong analytical abilities to interpret data and drive decision‑making.


• A collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively across teams.


• Integrity and a passion for delivering value to our members.

Measures of Success

• Execution of effective supplier management strategies.


• Achievement of KPIs related to supplier relationships and category growth.


• Positive feedback from members on category improvements.


• Successful implementation of strategic initiatives that enhance member value.

Why Join Us?

We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to make a significant impact in a growing and dynamic organisation. If you’re a skilled negotiator with a passion for supplier management and category innovation, this is your chance to define the future of Plumbing & Heating with us.