About the Role
We are seeking a strategic and commercially focused Buying Category Manager to join our Buying team. In your role you will identify, source, monitor and maintain a credible range within multiple product group sub-sections, ensuring all products meet the demands of all Draper Tools target customer groups.
Why work for us?
Draper Tools is a family business with a rich history, a strong, supportive ‘family culture’ and a passion for continuous improvement. We believe everyone can make a difference, we value opinions, we embrace new ideas and take a collaborative and proactive approach to change. People enjoy working for us; one in six employees have worked for Draper for more than 25 years!
Plus, we are proud winners of Employer of the Year 2025 at the Solent 250 Awards.
We believe there are four key reasons why you should work for us:
We’re a trusted brand: there is a reason why we’ve been in business for over 100 years and show no signs of slowing down.
We’ll welcome you: work plays a significant part in all of our lives, so we’ve built a happy and inviting environment, full of friendly colleagues who are proud to work together.
We’ll invest in you: our people are at the heart of everything we do. Which is why we’re passionate about helping you reach your full potential. We build success together.
We’ll value you: we love to recognise great work, so our benefits package has been designed to say “thank you” in more ways than one.
Benefits
As a Buying Category Manager your benefits will include:
* Full-time hours with some flexibility on start and finish time
* 25 days holiday with the ability to purchase additional leave
* Day off for your birthday
* Pension scheme
* Medical cash plan providing cash back on everyday medical costs
* Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
* Private health scheme *
* Staff discount on Draper products with significant savings available
* Employee discount scheme - discounts on gym memberships, groceries, holidays and more
* Long service bonus and awards*
* Ad-hoc rewards and recognition
* Cycle to Work Scheme
* Free onsite parking
*After qualifying period
Job Opportunity
* Developing and managing a category plan that delivers profitable market share growth for the business.
* Identifying, sourcing, and delivering new products to enhance a specified product category, and full ranges where additional, new requirements are identified.
* Monitoring market trends and competitor strategies to help continually shape category development.
* Collaborating with our Sales and Marketing teams to identify new product opportunities.
* Identifying new manufacturer opportunities, from current and potential supplier contacts.
* Ensuring the ongoing requirements of the business regarding item and range quality, cost price, product benefits and features and item profitability are met.
* Working alongside QA departments both in the UK and Far East to ensure existing and new products are compliant with relevant UK/EU/International Standards and Directives.
* Recording and sharing full product/range details with other departments to ensure consistency of presentation, physically and online, not just within each sub-section but across the full Draper Tools product offering.
* Working alongside our Marketing department to design and proof product packaging and proofing of marketing and sales materials whilst adhering to the corporate Brand Guidelines.
* Working closely with Supply Chain and Sales colleagues to ensure company requirements for availability and stock-turn are met.
* Understanding the quality level and applications of products, being fully aware of the target end-user in each case.
Essential Skills
* Practical interest in tools and related technology
* Good knowledge and ability to understand of our Draper product range
* Proven experience as a Buyer, Category Manager or similar
* CIPS or similar qualifications advantageous but not essential
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills
* Excellent, proven negotiation skills
* Maintain excellent working relationships with suppliers and colleagues
* Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise a busy varied workload
* Team player
* Friendly and professional
* Focus and motivated
* Flexible, open to change
* Excellent IT Skills (Inc. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Power BI)
* Good functional awareness of ERP and WMS systems