We're on the hunt for a Head of Category to partner with some of the UK's biggest electrical brands. You'll take the lead on building and maintaining a winning product range, managing key relationships, and working hand‑in‑hand with our supply chain, marketing, and e-commerce teams to create the best shopping experience in the UK. Our people are our superpower, and we're unstoppable when we're together! We want your ideas to flow, and what better way to make that happen than being based onsite, 5 days a week, where our culture fuels creativity, collaboration and growth.
Responsibilities
- Set the Strategy: Take full ownership of planning and range decisions for your category. You'll define the vision, set ambitious availability targets across all channels, and make sure our customers always have the best choice at their fingertips.
- Keep Things Moving: Lead the way on major space and seasonal changes, ensuring smooth stock flow and efficient supplier management. You'll spot opportunities to improve processes and keep everything running like clockwork.
- Lead the Team: Inspire and guide a talented buying and demand planning team. You'll develop their skills, nurture future leaders, and create a high‑performance culture where everyone strives for excellence.
- Drive Sales: Be accountable for all sales and promotional planning within your category. From seasonal campaigns to everyday pricing strategies, you'll make sure we hit targets and deliver results.
- Own Supplier Relationships: Build strong partnerships with key suppliers, secure the best trading terms, and manage quarterly planning cycles to maximise commercial performance.
- Work as One AO: Collaborate with supply chain, marketing, service, and commercial teams to deliver a seamless experience for our customers and keep AO ahead of the competition.
- Stay on Budget: Keep a close eye on stock and waste, ensuring compliance with budgets and driving efficiency across the board.
Qualifications
- Experience leading and developing a high‑performing team is essential.
- Strong negotiation skills, ability to learn quickly, and confidence to respectfully challenge received wisdom.
- Highly numerate, with great attention to detail, and a natural ability to use data to identify opportunities.
- Self‑motivated, strong collaboration skills, and a willingness to go above and beyond for the team.
- Highly tenacious, with an ability to work well under pressure, prioritise and work within tight timescales.
Benefits
- Holidays: 25 days, plus bank holidays (increasing to 27 days after 2 years with us!)
- Pension: Contribute 5% of your annual salary and we’ll do the same.
- VIP at the AO Arena: Opportunities to win free tickets and pre‑sale access.
- Health & wellbeing: Discounted gym membership, onsite spa and our Help @ Hand scheme providing access to virtual GP's, mental health support and more.
- Discounts: Exclusive discounts across our product range.
- Family leave: Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
- Giving back: 2 fully paid days a year to donate your time to any charity of your choice.
- On‑site perks: Free parking, complimentary breakfast and coffee at our subsidised in‑house coffee shop.
Commitment to Equality and Diversity
AO is for everyone! We should all feel that we belong. We’re proud to be different and celebrate the diversity of our workforce. We believe our people should reflect the diversity of our customer base so we can communicate effectively with all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders, ages, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.
