Category Manager
About the role
Machine Optimisation - Category Manager
As a Category Manager with MSC, you will play a critical role in shaping the future of our business by bringing our Category strategy to life. You’ll develop strong relationships with industry-leading suppliers and deliver innovative solutions to meet the ever‑changing needs and behaviours of our customers.
The Category Management team is evolving to establish an industry‑leading range of products and solutions, led by an exceptional team. This team is critically important to the continued success of MSC.
What will you be doing?
You will have full accountability for the Machine Optimisation category strategy, including Workholding, Measuring, Inspection and related productivity‑enhancing solutions, ensuring customers achieve improved accuracy, efficiency and machine uptime.
Drive Category Growth
Develop and execute category growth plans focused on machine performance optimisation, tooling accuracy and process reliability.
Work closely with suppliers specialising in Workholding systems, Metrology, Inspection equipment and Machine Tool accessories.
Collaborate with Sales and technical teams to support customer productivity initiatives, including machine set‑up optimisation and process improvement.
Lead strategic supplier engagement to deliver innovation aligned with machining trends, automation and smart manufacturing.
Enhance Category Profitability
Optimise portfolio mix across premium, performance‑led solutions and strong value alternatives.
Negotiate supplier agreements with a strong understanding of technical differentiation, application value and total cost of ownership.
Identify cross‑sell and bundling opportunities across cutting tools, workholding, measurement and inspection solutions.
Delivering Data‑Driven Product Excellence
Ensure technical products have best‑in‑class data, specifications and application content to support confident buying decisions.
Build and maintain a clear Machine Optimisation product roadmap aligned to machining accuracy, repeatability and efficiency.
Use insight from customer behaviour and supplier expertise to guide range rationalisation and expansion.
Additional Responsibilities
Act as a subject‑matter champion for Toolholding, Workholding and CNC machine equipment within the business.
Support machine optimisation initiatives by aligning product selection to machining processes such as milling, turning and multi‑axis operations.
Evaluate emerging technologies including modular workholding, quick‑change systems, probing and in‑process inspection.
Partner with Marketing to deliver application‑led propositions and educational content.
Monitor market and competitor trends to ensure ongoing category competitiveness.
What do you need?
Experience or strong working knowledge of Workholding, Measuring & Inspection or related Machine Optimisation categories.
Understanding of machining environments, tolerances, accuracy requirements and manufacturing productivity drivers.
Ability to translate technical product benefits into clear commercial and customer value.
Strong cross‑functional collaboration skills and confidence acting as a technical reference point.
We trust that our people will be able to teach you the role-specific skills, but for you to truly succeed at MSC you will embody our values and these significantly important attributes; ones that MSC believes embody talent within our business.
Connections: Your interpersonal skills; how well you manage relationships, and how rewarding you are to deal with
Thinking: The abilities you draw upon to solve problems, learn and be agile
Creativity: How adept you are at creating solutions and working with change.
Drive: Your level of ambition. The pace, energy, and enthusiasm applied to activities
Ultimately, we identify talent in people who can demonstrate our values and the behaviours required to thrive in our business. So, if you can operate effectively in a team, demonstrate customer-centricity, and are eager to make a difference then we would love to hear from you - apply today!
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £50,000.00-£55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Additional leave
Casual dress
Company car
Company events
Company pension
Cycle to work scheme
Employee discount
Free parking
Health & wellbeing programme
On-site parking
Private medical insurance
Referral programme
Sick pay
Store discount
Work from home
Experience:
Category Management: 2 years (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Wednesbury WS10 7WP
Questions about this role
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