Category Manager

International. Team players. All religions. Stronger together through our love of sports.

At Decathlon UK, we are driven by our mission to help more people in the UK get physically active and healthy. We are a part of the DECATHLON Group, one of the world’s leading sporting goods retailers. Headquartered in France, DECATHLON specializes in the creation of sports products and their distribution online and in stores at more than 1,700 locations in 61 countries. In the UK, it has over 50 stores nationwide and an e-commerce site that caters to nationwide delivery.

We are looking to change the game on how to bring to life the joys of sport in the UK and this is why we’re looking for a Sales Category Manager to join our team and accelerate our B2B and B2C GMV sales to external partners. Our future Sales Category Manager will be co-building the long-term strategies, and the right tools and processes to sell the best range to the final customers of our partners.

What you will do

Your goal is to increase the sales and profitability of a business to drive sustainable growth, as such, by:

• Analysing data or insights to determine industry and consumer trends regarding the product and category
• Creating and developing a strategic long-term plan for the development of a category
• Developing an exit strategy for unsuccessful products
• Overseeing a team of analysts and other support staff
• Building and driving relationships with key vendors to improve pricing and quality of services alongside our Account Manager

You will also build alongside the commercial team and the brands the best tools and catalogues in order to ensure that we are:

• Becoming a leader within our sports ranges, pricing and promotions across different channels
• Placing appropriate orders to ensure product availability meets demand alongside our Demand Planner Manager
• Leading category management projects to optimize ranges and related merchandising
• actively sourcing new lines and considering other opportunities to increase ranges with each partner (SMUs)
• Creating forecasts for product demand to ensure the sustainability of inventory
• Managing budget development and revenue for the category
• Developing strong working relationships with buying, marketing and merchandising teams

So if you have:

• Proven experience in Category Management
• Strong knowledge of category management, marketing and sales principles
• The ability to analyze and develop accurate conclusions to support category decisions based on key data
• An understanding of the market and consumer insights and trends
• Strong people management and persuasion skills to manage and influence at all levels of the company
• An analytical mind with a strategic ability
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in MS Office
• Good understanding of numeracy
• A passion for sports

Note: the role will require at least 2 days in the office every week

Working at Decathlon

If you are a person with an active and dynamic personality, then a Decathlon Career is definitely for you. Our unique culture empowered by our values of vitality, responsibility, generosity, and authenticity, and bonded by our love for sports, will definitely give you an experience of a lifetime.

Get to enjoy the following benefits and perks when working at Decathlon UK:

Rewards and Recognition

• Annual remuneration reviews
• 30% Teammate Discount
• Shareholding Scheme
• Access to Pension Scheme ( 3-8% Employer Contribution to Pension Scheme)
• Teammate rental scheme
• Cycle-to-Work Scheme

Social and Community

• Ticket discount for social and community events such as concerts, theatre, sports events, etc (through SmartSpending Access and so it varies per season)
• Access and opportunity to join internal and community social events every year for you and your family

Health and Wellbeing

• Up to 10 paid sick leaves and 5 bereavement leaves
• Maternity and shared parental leaves

Life Assurance

• Work-life Balance
• Up to 28 days holiday with the option to carry over a maximum of 5 days each year
• Airfare and accommodation discounts for trips (through SmartSpending Access and so it varies per season)

Learning and Development

• A vast program of intensive learning and development training via Decathlon Academy and other learning platforms
• Opportunity to join apprenticeship programmes

HQ Benefits

• Hybrid working mode
• No uniform
• Free hot drinks
• Free access to Decathlon Gym