Job Description

Category Buyer - Birmingham City Centre (28k-30k pa)
The Category Buyer is responsible for owning, developing, and growing a product category, using digital channels and platform-based buying behaviours to maximise commercial outcomes. This role blends traditional category procurement with a strong emphasis on digital-first strategies, working with vendors and distributors to optimise content, pricing, and promotional activities across our digital procurement platform.
You will act as the subject matter expert for your product category, engaging cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, the Digital Experience team and Product Data Teams to position your category for commercial growth and relevance within the rapidly evolving IT market.
Digital & Commercial Strategy

• Drive category performance through digital transactions, leveraging our platform technology.
• Promote your category to internal and external stakeholders using digital-first propositions.
• Support the vendor onboarding process to the platform.
• Collaborate with the Product Data team to increase platform visibility and client adoption of your category.
• Regularly liaise with Marketing and Vendor Marketing Co-Ordinator to create digital promotional campaigns and vendor spotlights.

Vendor & Distribution Engagement

• Actively manage vendor and distributor relationships, building credibility and ensure strategic alignment with our digital goals.
• Negotiate commercial terms, pricing, and exclusive promotions tailored for platform sales.
• Drive supplier engagement with the platform and ensure they are aware of the wider digital offering.
• Champion rebate terms and commercial funding to drive profit margin.

Content & Catalogue Management

• Ensure category product content, descriptions, imagery, and specifications are accurate, complete, and optimised for digital search and conversion.
• Work closely with the Product Data Team to ensure product listings are kept up-to-date.
• Ensure pricing competitiveness and availability of key SKUs through regular benchmarking and price file audits.

Platform Advocacy & Sales Support

• Be the internal champion for your category: delivering training, updates, and insights to sales and digital experience teams.
• Advise on and configure end-user specific catalogues for large or repeat-buying customers.
• Analyse buying patterns and market data to identify market opportunities for re-engagement through the digital platform.
• Ensure that quotes are accurate, competitively priced, and aligned to customer expectations, with a strong emphasis on delivering rapid response times and high-quality service.
• Negotiate with suppliers to achieve the best possible pricing, availability, and terms.

Market Insight & Innovation

• Stay informed on emerging technologies, competitor activity, and customer behaviour within your category.
• Attend vendor events, training sessions, and exhibitions to maintain expert knowledge and raise platform profile.

Operational Excellence

• Maintain a high standard of data quality, system accuracy, and response times.
• Support escalations in returns or delivery issues within your category.

About You
To join us as a Category Buyer, you will need at least 3 years previous experience in the IT and technology industry in a similar role and can demonstrate this through:

• Knowledge of the IT market and channel structure
• Holding existing supply chain relationships and can develop new supplier relationships
• Experience in negotiation of pricing and commercial terms of IT and technology products/services
• The ability to hold supplier meetings to discuss product category objectives and demonstrate our business digital capability
• Use of initiative to drive focus and development of your category
• The ability to analyse data to make strategic business decisions
• Understanding accreditation levels of appropriate vendors and seek ways to improve this
• Supporting sales representatives in the management of large project based deals
• Experience of specialising in a specific product set
• Holding strong commercial awareness

Key Behaviours

• Commercially Minded
• Organised & Detail-Oriented
• Resilient
• Accountable
• Confident Communicator
• Innovative
• Customer-Focused
• Collaborative
• Self-Driven

Why Join Probrand?

• Join a digitally innovative and rapidly growing IT solutions company with a unique value proposition.
• City centre office including an onsite cafe, free access to gym and shower facilities.
• Supportive, collaborative culture with ongoing development opportunities.
• Comprehensive benefits package including pension scheme, holiday trading, life insurance, EAP, discounted tech, electric car salary sacrifice scheme and hybrid working.

Skills Required