<h2>About the role</h2><p>We’re hiring a proven commercial leader to take full accountability for one of our most strategic and commercially significant categories. This role demands someone who can set a clear direction, lead a high‑performing team, and deliver ambitious results across a complex and fast‑moving business.</p><p>You will own the category end-to-end — shaping strategy, driving performance, influencing senior stakeholders, and representing the category at the highest levels. If you’re an experienced category expert with a strong leadership track record and the confidence to operate at scale, this is a major opportunity to make a business-wide impact.</p><h2>Main Responsibilities</h2><ul><li><p>Set the strategic direction for the category, defining the long‑term vision, commercial priorities and investment focus, and ensuring execution delivers meaningful business impact.</p></li><li><p>Lead a senior, high‑performing team, setting standards for performance, capability, pace and decision‑making, while developing future leaders and shaping the overall culture of the function.</p></li><li><p>Define and evolve the category proposition across all channels, ensuring it delivers competitive advantage, meets diverse customer needs, and positions the business for future growth.</p></li><li><p>Own senior supplier relationships at a strategic level, negotiating complex commercial agreements, shaping joint business plans, and ensuring the business secures a market‑leading position.</p></li><li><p>Drive transformation and innovation, challenging current ways of working, unlocking efficiencies, and ensuring the category stays ahead of market trends, customer behaviour and commercial risk.</p></li><li><p>Act as a key senior leader within the commercial organisation, influencing cross‑functional decision‑making, shaping enterprise‑wide priorities, and driving alignment across multiple business units.</p></li></ul><h2>You will need</h2><ul><li>Significant senior experience leading a complex commercial or category function.</li><li>A proven track record of delivering commercial results and leading teams to high performance.</li><li>Strong negotiation and supplier management experience, with the ability to build long-term, strategic partnerships.</li><li>Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with influence at all levels.</li><li>Strategic thinking, sound judgement, and the ability to simplify complexity and deliver at pace.</li><li>Collaborative leadership style, with a commitment to developing people and building inclusive, high-performing teams.</li><li>Flexibility, resilience and a solutions-focused mindset in a fast-moving environment.</li></ul><h2>What's in it for you</h2><p>At Booker, along with being a great place to work and giving you an opportunity to get on in your career, we also offer the following fantastic package of benefits:</p><ul><li>A Booker colleague card with 10% off purchases at Booker and double discount events up to three times a year.</li><li>After 3 months service, a Tesco colleague discount card with 10% increasing to 15% off most purchases at Tesco for a 4 day period after every four-weekly pay day, ie. thirteen times a year. In addition to 10% off at Tesco Cafe and 20% off all F&amp;F purchases.</li><li>10% off pay monthly &amp; SIM only deals with Tesco Mobile for yourself, along with further great deals through-out the year.</li><li>Up to 30% off car, pet and home insurance at Tesco bank. Terms and conditions apply.</li><li>Free eye test when you spend £50 or more. You can also save 30% when you spend £50 or more on glasses, prescription sunglasses and contact lenses.</li><li>50% off health checks at Tesco Pharmacy.</li><li>Exclusive access to discounted RAC breakdown cover rates</li><li>An exclusive deals and discounts website saving you money on everyday purchases including a cycle to work scheme.</li><li>After 3 months service, you can join our annual Save As You Earn share scheme which allows you to buy Tesco shares in the future at a discount.</li><li>Retirement savings plan (pension) - save up to 5% and Booker will match your contribution.</li><li>Life Assurance - You are covered for death in service life cover of up to three times annual pay</li><li>Health and Wellbeing support and resources including our 24/7, confidential Employee Assistance Programme and Virtual GP for you and your family.</li><li>A great holiday package</li></ul><p class="flex justify-end my-8"><a class="btn flex items-center bg-orange w-full md:w-1/2 md:p-5 text-left text-xl" href="https://applybookercareers.com/members/?j=29439" target="_blank">Apply now <span class="text-4xl font-light grow text-right">&gt;</span></a></p>