Commercial Category Manager

Position: Commercial Category Manager

Location: Manchester City Centre (Hybrid working: splitting time between home and the Manchester office at least 2–3 times a week)

Agency Partner: Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time (37.5 hours per week)

Salary: Up to £55,000 per annum plus great benefits (Work Level 6A)

Closing Date: 30-07-2026

About the Role

Are you passionate about shaping trading decisions, spotting market opportunities, and creating product ranges that genuinely meet customer needs? Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency is proud to partner to recruit a talented Commercial Category Manager for Co-op's Food business based in Manchester.

In this pivotal hybrid role, you will play a key part in steering the direction of your category—from deciding which products go on our shelves to how we price and promote them. By turning real customer behavior and performance data into smart trading actions, you will help strengthen our competitiveness and drive our commercial goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy & Insight: Build strong collaborative relationships with internal teams and channel partners while spending time in stores and the market to understand customer missions and changing needs.

• Commercial Decisions: Use data to inform clear, commercial recommendations across range, pricing, and promotions, supporting the wider development of category strategy.

• Performance & Planning: Partner with the Senior Category Manager to review performance, highlight risks or opportunities, and shape customer-led plans. Support forecasting, budgeting, and performance tracking.

• New Products & Promotions: Play a key role in launching new own-label products, shaping promotional activity, and briefing commercial teams on cost, margin, and promotional plans.

• GSCOP Compliance: Apply a solid understanding of GSCOP in day-to-day decision-making.

What We Are Looking For

To thrive in this dynamic role, you will need to bring:

• Data & Commercial Acumen: The ability to turn customer insight, sales data, and market trends into clear commercial actions, backed by strong commercial awareness of how pricing, cost, and volume drive performance.

• Technical Proficiency: Experience using analytical and office tools such as MicroStrategy, Circana, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Communication & Influencing: Confidence in communicating with colleagues and partners at all levels, and influencing decisions with well-reasoned recommendations.

• Regulatory Understanding: A solid understanding of GSCOP and its practical application.

Fantastic Benefits & Perks

Enjoy a robust package of financial, lifestyle, and wellbeing benefits designed to support you:

• Competitive Salary: Up to £55,000 per year plus an annual bonus based on personal and business performance.

• Time Off: 28 days of holiday per year plus bank holidays (rising to 32 days with service).

• Financial Security: Pension scheme with up to 10% employer contributions, plus Wagestream (early access to earned pay).

• Office Perks: Access to a subsidised onsite gym at our Manchester HQ, plus free onsite parking options where applicable.

• Discounts: 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands.

• Health & Wellbeing: Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice, and a 24/7 colleague support service.

• Career Growth: Comprehensive training, career progression support, and a cycle-to-work scheme.