Category Manager – Cookware & Knives (Merch Team)
We have an exciting and unique opportunity for you to progress your Buying career in Australia’s number one destination for those who love to cook and entertain as a Category Manager.
As with any role in a rapidly growing business, we work hard, however, we are empowered and given ownership to create successful outcomes for the business and our customers.
Together, as a team, we understand how our actions can impact the performance of the business and our customers which is why we work with energy, we commit, we act and we deliver for and support each other.
About us
Kitchen Warehouse started from humble beginnings in Fremantle, Western Australia in 1986. Even with our national expansion and strong online presence, we remain very much a family business, born from a genuine passion for home cooking and great food.
Today, Kitchen Warehouse operates a national store network and a dominant ecommerce channel, offering 12,000+ kitchenware products, with a significant and growing portion of our range developed under our own In-House Brands.
Customers visit us because we offer:
- The best selection of brands
- A world-class retail and online experience
- Exceptional service, advice, and product knowledge
No matter how quickly we grow, we stay connected and guided by our core values:
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Authenticity – Genuine experience and service
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Quality – Standards that can be trusted
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Family – Putting our people first
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Customer – At the heart of everything we do
And we bring these behaviours to life every day:
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Take Ownership – Commit, act, and deliver
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Challenge Respectfully – Ask questions, share ideas, align as a team
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Fact-Based Conversations – Use data to drive clarity and improvement
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Frugality – Deliver more with less, valuing time and resources
If you want to be part of a thriving, passionate, and commercially minded team, Kitchen Warehouse could be the place to take your career to the next level.
About The role
We are looking for a passionate and driven Category Manager to join our Merchandise team as we look to excite our customers with a curated range of the worlds best Kitchenware.
You’ll help us in designing and executing a strategy to drive our categories in order to achieve sales & profit through inventory management, product development and local purchasing.
You’ll deliver insights, ideas & recommendations to the Buying Manager, GM of Merch & wider business to drive action.
This role will have full accountability of the categories assigned with support, direction and guidance from the Buying Manager.
This role relies heavily on attention to detail, commercial outcomes, communication (both internal and external), influencing & negotiation skills and advanced computer skills.
In addition, this role is responsible for the line management, coaching, and development of Assistant Buyers and Buying Assistants.
Your role and responsibilities will include:
- Building a coherent merchandise strategy and offer that is commercial & customer centric, with a focus on growing in-house brands.
- Implementing strategies to increase sales/profit by managing price, availability & visibility, with a focus on in-house brands
- Providing leadership, coaching, and development to Assistant Buyers and Buying Assistants.
- Managing and working within a busy promotional calendar
- Post Seasonal analysis and presentations
- Developing & maintaining strong working relationships with internal stakeholders; Planning, Sourcing, Marketing, Digital & Operations
- Developing and executing Win/Win strategies with our vendor base to grow the business, with a focus on partnerships that support in-house brand development.
- Evaluating market opportunities and ensuring that the range is reflective of changing trends and product advancements at all times
- Supporting our stores with product knowledge and product training
- Effectively manage inventory and slow sellers.
To succeed in the role you will have:
- Stellar negotiation skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
- Proven ability to establish, maintain, and manage professional internal and external stakeholder relationships.
- Sharp quantitative and analytical skills with an eye for detail.
- Advanced computer skills, particularly in Excel.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to self-manage and meet deadlines.
- Skilled at multitasking and hands-on work.
- Strong problem-solving abilities and composure under pressure.
- Quick learner with a can-do attitude.
- Team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment.
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in a Buying / Senior Buying role.
Why us?
We’re growing fast and have an exciting future ahead of us. If you’ve been holding out for a role where you can really make an impact and become part of something bigger, this is it.
Ready to join Kitchen Warehouse and land your ultimate job?
Salary: Competitive package aligned to experience
