Category Manager

**About Us** At the Independent Hardware Group, we are passionate and committed to our purpose of championing successful independent businesses Australia wide and at the same time strengthening local communities’ one postcode at a time. We’re the leading partner to over 635 independently owned stores - giving them a competitive advantage to take the big chains to task, and with the trusted, strong heritage, hardware brands of Mitre 10 and Home Hardware, we enable retailers to the best stores in their town and as such ensuring builders, renovators and DIY’ers build, renovate and maintain the best homes for Australian families. The business is the 2nd largest player in the Australian hardware market. It is Trade focused with a competitive DIY offer with a rich consumer engagement supported by digital capabilities. **Join Mitre 10 as a Category Manager - Drive Growth and Innovation** **About the opportunity** As a Category Manager, you’ll be at the forefront of managing a competitive product range, from sourcing to store delivery. You’ll be the driving force behind our category’s growth and success, while supporting our Independent Hardware Group store network.** **Let’s Talk About you** - **Lead Category Performance**: Own the success of your category by achieving budgetary targets and aligning your plans with business objectives. Your strategic category planning will make a lasting impact on Mitre 10’s success. - **Stay Ahead of the Curve**: Keep up-to-date with emerging trends, competitors, and market gaps to identify exciting opportunities that will push your category forward. - **Supplier Power**: Build and nurture strong relationships with key suppliers. Negotiate competitive pricing, create tailored business plans, and drive innovative range solutions that keep Mitre 10 ahead of the game. - **Promotions and Marketing**: Develop and implement a winning promotional marketing program for our brands. From supplier negotiations to product selection, pricing, and performance review, you’ll ensure everything is spot on for maximum impact. - **Train & Develop**: Partner with suppliers to create training programs that enhance our stores' performance and keep the team sharp and ready to meet customer needs.**: - **Store Support**: Provide ongoing support to our stores to help them hit their targets. Your category plans will be essential in ensuring stores are fully equipped to succeed. - **Product Sourcing & Development**:Maximise all opportunities to source the best products and create a competitive, diverse range that exceeds customer expectations. - **Store and Competitor Visits**:Keep a close eye on the market by visiting stores and reviewing competitors to ensure our offerings are always leading the pack. - **Inventory Management**:Ensure stock levels are optimized for efficiency and sales growth, ensuring we always have the right products in the right place. - **Ethical Business Practices**:Conduct all business dealings in a fair, respectful, and ethical manner, balancing the needs of suppliers, the company, and our store network. **You’re Likely a Match If You have** To be a successful **Category Manager** at Mitre 10, we need someone with a blend of strategy, communication, and analytical skills: - **Experience**: You’ve got a proven track record in strategic category planning, ranging, and supplier management (preferably in retail or hardware). - **Analytical Skills**: Your ability to analyse data and quickly implement key changes will be key to driving category success. - **Strong Communication**: You’re a natural communicator who can negotiate, coach, and influence suppliers and internal teams alike. - **Leadership**: With mínimal supervision, you’ll lead projects, develop relationships, and influence outcomes across the business. - **Organizational Skills**: You thrive under pressure, can manage multiple competing priorities, and still hit deadlines. - **Positive, Can-Do Attitude**: Resilience, enthusiasm, and the ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment are a must **Life at Metcash** Experience a supportive and flexible work environment. We are a FlexReady accredited workplace Enjoy a 5th week of annual leave every year after your first year. Benefit from 2 well-being days and 1 volunteer day annually. An abundance of learning, development, and career growth opportunities. 12 weeks of gender-neutral paid parental leave for primary carers. Proudly awarded the “Bronze Employer for LGBTQ Inclusion”. Recognized as the 74th in the "Equileap Top 100" globally for initiatives on gender equity. Gold accreditation by Mental Health Australia. Incredible value discounts and perks through our team member app, “Our Local”. We’re all about celebrating success, and we’re proud to be a WGEA Employer of Choice for Equity, an accredited Flex Ready workplace, and a Gold Standard Mental Health First Aid skilled workplace. The industry is changing, and we need adaptable people who thrive under