Location: Avonmouth, Bristol (Hybrid – typically Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the office) Contract: Permanent Start Date: ASAP Salary: Competitive bonus benefits Lead a Global Accessories & Jewellery Category At Harding, we partner with leading global cruise lines and premium brands to deliver retail experiences across ships worldwide. Our Buying teams play a critical role in shaping these experiences - curating product ranges, building brand partnerships and driving commercial performance across international markets. We are seeking an experienced Category Manager to lead our Costume Jewellery & Accessories category from our Avonmouth head office. This is a high-impact leadership role with ownership of a commercially significant global category, working with premium brands such as Pandora, Swarovski, Mulberry and Coach, alongside driving growth through private label development. Define Strategy. Drive Performance. Deliver Growth You will take ownership of defining and executing category strategy, balancing commercial performance with a creative, trend-led approach. Working closely with the Category Director, you will shape mid-to-long-term plans, drive revenue and margin performance, and identify opportunities for growth across global markets. This role requires someone who can confidently translate insight into action, operating at both a strategic and hands-on level. You will be responsible for ensuring the category delivers against key commercial targets while continuously evolving the offer to meet customer needs. Own Trading and Vendor Strategy You will lead the day-to-day trading of the category, analysing performance to optimise product mix, pricing and promotions. A key focus of the role is vendor management, developing strong relationships with global branded partners while also driving innovation through private label product development, which is a core area of growth for the business. You will take ownership of range building, product development and vendor strategy, ensuring the category is commercially competitive and aligned to customer demand. This will involve negotiating trading terms, aligning brand and private label strategies, and delivering a compelling product assortment across all markets. Lead and Develop a High-Performing Buying Team You will lead a team of four direct reports, with wider support across the buying and merchandising functions. Strong leadership is essential, particularly in navigating a complex and evolving team environment. You will be responsible for setting direction, driving performance and developing capability within the team. This role requires someone who is confident, proactive and able to lead from the front, fostering a high-performance culture while managing competing priorities across a global business. Collaborate Across a Global Retail Business You will work cross-functionally with merchandising, retail operations and cruise line partners to ensure category plans are executed effectively. You will also engage directly with vendors, attend trade shows and visit ships to stay close to customer trends and market developments. The role requires someone who is commercially minded, collaborative and comfortable influencing stakeholders across different functions and regions. About You You are an experienced Senior Buyer, Buying Manager or Category Manager with a minimum of 10 years’ experience within a mid-sized to large fashion retail organisation. You bring strong branded fashion buying experience alongside proven capability in private label product development, which is essential for this role. You are commercially driven with a track record of delivering category growth and profitability, and you are comfortable managing complex global vendor relationships. You combine creativity with strong commercial judgement, with the ability to interpret trends and translate these into compelling product ranges and customer experiences. You are a confident leader with experience managing teams and operating within a fast-paced, high-volume retail environment. You are driven, resilient and comfortable taking calculated risks to deliver results. What You Will Gain You will join a global retail business headquartered in Avonmouth, Bristol. We offer: • Annual bonus scheme • Company pension • Healthcare provision • 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional five days • Exposure to global retail operations across international cruise markets • The opportunity to shape and grow a key category within a fast-moving business About Harding Harding is the world’s only dedicated cruise retailer, partnering with leading global cruise lines and operating retail shops across ships worldwide. With a growing international footprint, we continue to shape the future of onboard retail. We are committed to building diverse teams and creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, supported and able to thrive. Apply Now If you are a commercially driven, creative Buying leader with a passion for product and a track record of delivering category growth, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to take ownership of a global category and drive the next phase of growth at Harding.