Senior Category Manager

Buyagift and Red Letter Days are the UK’s leading gift experience provider. We’re all about turning special moments into extra-special memories. With a gifting range of 4000+ experiences from spa days and skydives to gourmet treats and once-in-a-lifetime adventures, we make it easy to give the gift of wow. 🎁   As part of the Moonpig Group, we’re proud to share that our vision is to become the most trusted platform in the UK gift experience market. Our mission is to spread happiness through thoughtful, joy-filled experiences. People are at the heart of everything we do. Since joining the Moonpig Group in 2022, we’ve been powered by strong values, bold ideas and a shared passion for making a real difference. Here, you’ll have the chance to shape the kind of experiences people never forget – and help us build connections that truly matter.  

Senior Category Manager | 📍London – Hybrid (2 days in office) | 💰Competitive Salary + Benefits

About the Role

The opportunity

Own the strategy and performance of your experience categories across Buyagift and Red Letter Days, part of Moonpig Group. Shape an exciting range of experiences, grow sales and margin, and build partnerships that give customers more reasons to choose us.

Commercial ownership

You'll turn customer insight, market trends and commercial data into clear category plans that drive growth. Balancing day-to-day trading with longer-term opportunities, you'll explore new experiences, formats and price points while improving the performance of our existing range.

Your team

Reporting to the Head of Partner Growth, you'll lead a team of three direct reports supporting your categories. You'll set clear priorities and targets, take ownership of category results and support your team's development through regular feedback and coaching.

You'll also work closely with Partner Acquisition, Marketing, Product and Trading to turn category plans into results.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy and Growth

• Define and own category strategies, setting clear sales, margin, range and partner growth goals based on customer demand, market trends and commercial opportunities.

• Identify gaps in our experience range, regional coverage and price points. Test new products and formats, measure results and build on what works.

• Work with Partner Acquisition to agree recruitment priorities and partner requirements, helping us attract partners that strengthen our category offering.

Partner Management and Negotiation

• Build trusted relationships with new and existing partners, understanding their goals and agreeing joint growth plans through regular business reviews.

• Negotiate pricing, commission and exclusivity agreements that balance customer value, commercial performance and sustainable partner growth.

• Collaborate with partners to develop and launch distinctive experiences that help our brands stand out.

Trading and Range Performance

• Lead seasonal planning, launches and campaigns around key gifting moments, including Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Christmas, working closely with Marketing, Product and Trading.

• Use Excel and commercial reporting tools to analyse sales, margin, conversion and customer satisfaction, identify performance gaps and take action.

• Work with relevant teams to improve product content and merchandising, balancing immediate trading opportunities with longer-term innovation.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Set clear objectives and targets for your three direct reports, aligned with category sales, margin and partner growth plans. Review individual and team performance, agree actions where needed and retain accountability for overall category results.

• Agree account ownership, priorities and decision-making responsibilities across the team, giving each person the confidence and autonomy to deliver.

• Hold regular one-to-ones and performance reviews, providing constructive feedback and coaching to develop your team's commercial analysis, partner management and negotiation skills.

• Align priorities, responsibilities and deadlines across teams. Share clear updates on results and risks, resolve challenges and escalate issues with recommendations when support is needed.

• Champion commercial thinking, creativity and high standards across Buying, and deputise for the Head of Partner Growth when required.

About You

You're commercially minded, curious and confident turning insight into action. You enjoy building strong partner relationships, negotiating value and finding opportunities to grow a category.

You'll bring a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on delivery, with the ability to adapt and make sound decisions in a fast-moving environment.

You'll enjoy leading and developing a team, setting clear expectations and helping others grow their skills and confidence while taking ownership of commercial results.

The role also offers opportunities to build your commercial leadership skills, broaden your experience and explore career development across Moonpig Group.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in category management, buying or commercial partnerships, with a track record of delivering sales or margin growth.

• Ability to turn customer insights, market trends and commercial analysis into clear range, partner and growth priorities.

• Strong negotiation, relationship-building and influencing skills, with experience working across internal teams and external partners.

• Confidence using Excel and reporting tools to investigate performance, assess opportunities and make informed commercial decisions.

• Strong prioritisation and organisational skills, with the ability to deliver plans and adapt to changing trading conditions.

• Experience managing people, coaching colleagues or leading shared initiatives, with the ability to take responsibility for team performance, delivery and development.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience in marketplaces, e-commerce, experiences, gifting, travel, hospitality or leisure.

• Experience in a high-growth business or established consumer brand with ambitious commercial targets.

• Experience developing distinctive ranges, exclusive experiences or joint partner growth plans.

We know great people come from different backgrounds, so don't worry if you don't tick every box. We're interested in your commercial judgement, the impact you've made and your potential to grow.

Interview Process

Stage 1: TA Screen – 30 minutes.

Stage 2: Hiring Manager Screen – 45–60 minutes.

Stage 3: Final Interview – 60 minutes with the Hiring Manager and a senior stakeholder, including a task presentation.

Our process may vary depending on role and availability. We keep candidates informed of any changes.

What’s in it for you? We believe in empowering our team to do their best work. Enjoy:  💸 Competitive Pay & Bonuses: Plus generous pension plans, staff discounts, and share schemes.  💆🏾‍♀️ Wellbeing First: Private healthcare (UK), dental, life insurance and mental health support  🏖️ Flexible Working & Time Off: Generous holidays, hybrid working (unless specified otherwise, 2 days a week in the office), and opportunities for international working.  📈 Career Growth: Learning allowances, coaching, and development programs. 🤝 Recognition & Giving Back: Regular awards, charity support, length of service awards, and volunteering days.   Want to see more? Check out our Linked In pages below: Buyagift Red Letter Days Moonpig Group   Our Ways of Working: We trust our colleagues to do what’s right and offer flexibility to support a balance between work and life. At the same time, face-to-face office time is an important and expected part of working at Moonpig Group. We believe regular in-person working supports collaboration, alignment, and effective decision-making. Candidates will have regular and ongoing time working from the office as part of their role, which will be discussed during the recruitment process.   Moonpig Group's Commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity: At Moonpig Group, we’re all about creating a workplace where everyone feels they truly belong. We celebrate what makes each of us unique, whether that’s our background, how we work best, or what matters most to us.   From working parents who need flexible hours to neurodiverse colleagues with specific working styles, we’re here to support our people in ways that work for them. Because when you feel valued and included, you can thrive, and so can we.   We’re proud to have a number of employee-led groups driving this forward, including our LGBTQ+, Gender Balance, Neurodiversity and EMBRACE (Educating Myself for Better Racial Awareness and Cultural Enrichment) communities, plus our Group-wide EDI committee. These teams help make sure every voice is heard and every idea has a place.   We know that diversity fuels creativity, innovation and connection, and that’s why we’ll keep pushing for progress. Together, we’re building a culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and free to be their brilliant, authentic selves.   If you have a preferred name, please use it to apply and share your pronouns if you are comfortable to do so😊 - If you have any reasonable adjustment requests throughout the interview process please let us know on your application or speak to the Recruiter.