Category Manager

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Introduction:
About Us

Protecta Group is a proudly family owned, Australian business specialising in a niche range of temporary protection products and solutions. Since our establishment 20 years ago, we’ve experienced exceptional growth, particularly over the past decade and we have strong plans in place to ensure this momentum continues well into the future.

At Protecta, we know that our people are our greatest asset and our most valuable competitive advantage. Our values are more than just words. They define who we are and how we work every day. We’re making it easy for our customers, maximising every opportunity, helping people thrive, and consistently delivering beyond expectations. This mindset shapes our collaborative, supportive, culture and drives the exceptional experiences we create for both our customers and our team. Joining Protecta means being part of a company where your contributions are truly valued and your growth is supported.

Description:
About the Role

Protecta is committed to delivering exceptional products and services while driving continuous improvement, sustainability, and operational excellence.

We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Category Manager to take ownership of key product categories within our portfolio.

In this strategic role, you will develop and execute the category roadmap, drive revenue and margin growth, optimise inventory performance and lead strategic supplier relationships that support Protecta’s continued expansion.

This role is ideal for someone who is commercially sharp, data-driven, and enjoys leading category strategy from concept to execution.

What You’ll Do:
Work with the Management team to develop and execute category strategies to drive revenue growth, gross margin performance, and inventory efficiency.
Analyse market, competitor, customer and supplier insights and translate into clear commercial initiatives that strengthen category performance and competitive position
Own product portfolio direction, including range optimisation, lifecycle management, pricing strategy, and promotional planning.
Oversee new product selection, positioning, pricing, and promotional planning.
Set and lead the category’s supplier strategy, including strategic partner selection, major commercial negotiations, contract oversight and supplier governance to ensure supply continuity, competitive advantage and long-term value.
Partner with Sales, Marketing, QA, Product Development, and Operations teams to align strategies and initiatives.
Evaluate customer feedback and implement changes to enhance the overall customer experience and drive customer loyalty.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including process enhancements, supplier performance improvements, and sustainable sourcing practices.
Provide clear performance reporting and strategic recommendations to inform business decisions and strategy.

Skills and Experiences:
What We’re Looking For:
5+ years’ experience in category management, within a product-based distribution or B2B environment.
Demonstrated experience driving category performance, including revenue growth, margin optimisation and supplier strategy execution.
Strong commercial acumen and a proven track record in supplier negotiation
Analytical and strategic thinker with excellent decision-making skills.
Outstanding communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management abilities.
Passion for continuous improvement, operational excellence, and sustainable sourcing practices.
A proactive and accountable operator who is comfortable working collaboratively.

What do we offer?

An opportunity to be part of a supportive and growing Australian family business that values its employees.
A competitive remuneration package + super
Inclusion in our uncapped profit share (GBS) program after successful completion of probationary period.
Recognition for your contributions through our Bonusly program.
Full-time role – Monday to Friday.
Optional Rostered Day Off (RDO) program, with the opportunity to accrue time for a paid day off each month.
Convenient onsite parking.
Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential support and wellbeing.
A warm team environment with regular culture and engagement initiatives.

If you are driven by results and like turning strategy into action, we’d love to hear from you!