Senior Buyer in Leeds, West Yorkshire

Category Manager  - Food & Confectionary
Location: Normanton
Salary: £50,000 – £60,000 + benefits

Elevation Recruitment Group are delighted to be working with a well-established and growing wholesaler based in Normanton, as they look to appoint a Category Manager with a strong background in sourcing products from the Far East.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded Category Manager to take ownership of a key product category, driving strategy, supplier relationships, and margin performance within a fast-paced wholesale environment.

As Category Manager, you will be responsible for the end-to-end management of your category, with a particular focus on international sourcing across the Far East. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and delivering category strategies aligned with overall business objectives

• Managing and growing supplier relationships across the Far East, including negotiation of cost, lead times, and terms

• Identifying new sourcing opportunities, products, and innovations to drive competitive advantage

• Owning pricing, margin, and promotional strategies to maximise profitability

• Working cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Quality, Sales, and Marketing teams

• Monitoring market trends, competitor activity, and customer needs to inform decision-making

• Ensuring compliance with quality, ethical, and regulatory standards when sourcing internationally

To be successful in this role, you will ideally have:

• Proven experience as a Category Manager, Buyer, or Senior Buyer within wholesale, distribution, or a similar environment

• Demonstrable experience sourcing products from the Far East

• Strong commercial and negotiation skills, with a track record of improving margin and supplier performance

• Confidence managing complex international supplier relationships

• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to turn data into actionable insight

• A proactive, resilient, and results-driven approach

• Competitive salary of £50,000 – £60,000

• The opportunity to play a key role in a growing and ambitious business

• Autonomy to shape and develop your category

• Supportive leadership and a collaborative working culture