Category Manager – Utilities and Specialist Infrastructure

Overview

In this role you shape Keyline’s commercial strategy for utilities and specialist infrastructure, acting as the bridge between suppliers and the sales network. You own category performance, drive profitable growth, and optimise terms, range and stock to support cross-functional campaigns. You’ll work closely with branches, sales and marketing to deliver market-leading offerings. The role combines strategic influence with hands-on supplier management in a fast-paced environment.

Pay / Benefits

• competitive base salary
• car allowance
• pension scheme with matched contributions
• Save as you earn and share schemes
• colleague discount across Group brands
• private medical cover

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver a customer-focused category strategy to grow sales, gross margin and market share
• Develop a market-leading product range aligned with contractor and customer needs
• Improve margins through supplier term negotiations, group synergies and direct sourcing
• Own the category budget and monitor trading performance to hit targets
• Manage supplier relationships to meet KPIs, service levels and safety expectations
• Collaborate with branch, sales, marketing and pricing teams on promotions and range/space planning
• Partner with supply chain to ensure product availability and manage slow-moving stock

Key requirements

• Proven experience in category management or similar commercial role in building, distribution or infrastructure
• Track record of creating and executing category strategies informed by market analysis
• Strong commercial acumen with supplier management and range development experience
• Excellent negotiation, persuasion and stakeholder engagement skills
• Self-motivated, adaptable problem-solver able to work at pace and make independent decisions
• Minimum A-level or college equivalent education
• CIPS qualification (or equivalent) preferred
• Deep product and market knowledge in Utilities and Specialist Infrastructure
• Understanding of building industry customers, drivers, regulatory considerations, and competitor networks
• Experience leading multi-functional project delivery

• strong negotiation and influencing abilities
• stakeholder management and relationship-building
• analytical thinking and data-driven decision making
• supplier management
• range development and product sourcing
• category strategy development

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