Category Assistant - #2085943

Category Assistant

37.5 hours per week Monday – Friday

Competitive salary plus benefits package

Location: Scotland / Glasgow based. Hybrid working model – 3/4 days per week in a Glasgow based office and 1 day at home. Ability to travel to our Stirling Head Office when required.

About The Paint Shed

We are proud of our heritage. We've been selling paint for over 60 years and have grown from our first stores in Edinburgh to become one of the UK's fastest-growing trade paint retailers. Today, The Paint Shed is proud to be part of the Brewers Group, the UK's largest independent paint merchant, and a 2026 Sunday Times Best Places to Work organisation. Trade professionals and DIY enthusiasts trust us to deliver quality products and tools quickly and affordably. We’re committed to providing excellent service and a top range of products both in-store and online.

Job Description

We’re looking for a Category Assistant to join our small but dynamic team. In this role, you’ll work closely with our Category Planning Managers, Finance Team, Suppliers, Branch Managers and all Head Office departments – a true cross functional role. Reporting into the Category Planning Manager, as a Category Assistant, you’ll support in all tasks to maximise category performance, with a focus on product and supplier data, commercial reporting, promotional plans and execution and supply chain issues. You’ll develop a strong understanding of our categories, products, suppliers and the market to best assist the team in developing and implementing commercial plans.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Data Management

• You will be comfortable working with a large amount of data, supporting the team with system amendments proposing any improvements and be the owner of any new product data, looking after a large number of SKUs. You will play a key part in the new product set up process, ensuring all information regarding the new line is uploaded accurately to the system & communicated to the wider business.
• Working with the wider team, pulling together the product data for promotional activity based on direction from the Category Planning Manager.

Reporting

• You will pull raw data from the system to support the Category Planning Managers in reporting on trade, stock position, sales and promotional analysis.
• Working with the Category Planning Managers on range reviews, pulling all relevant historical data and actively proposing solutions / new opportunities and ensuring this is followed through to action.
• You will develop a good understanding of the competitor landscape – pricing and range. Providing detailed intelligence to the team, you will do regular competitor reviews, pull together internal and external data and actively follow up on any actions. Including working with our price monitoring tool, ensuring the data captured is accurate & updated.

Purchasing & Supply Chain

• You will be the first point of contact for our store managers, suppliers and warehouses on product supply chain issues, delivery queries and special-order requests.
• You will ensure the business is fully updated on any changes in supplier terms – such as MOQ’s or updates to contacts.
• Working with the Category Planning Manager, our Accounts Team and Suppliers to ensure invoice queries are resolved in a timely manner.
• You will work with the team to ensure supplier purchases are tracked and any actions appropriately followed up – such as chasing external credits or support due and raising notifications of credit.
• Supporting the Category Planning Managers with bulk buying processes across stores and ecom.
• Working with the wider team on ordering new equipment for stores such as ICT machines or shakers – within current store estate and being involved in new store openings.

Administrative Support

• Provide ad-hoc admin support to the wider team, by creating reports or correspondence.
• Managing our shared buying inbox, ensuring the queries get to the Category Planning Managers within an agreed timeframe.
• You will work with the wider team to support on organising trade events and supplier brand marketing campaigns.
• Ensuring our store network gets the news on new product launches, supplier marketing campaigns, new product or brands initiatives in a consistent and timely manner by being the owner of our internal hub.

What we are looking for in a Category Assistant

• We’re looking for a pro-active, self-motivated forward thinker who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel) and the ability to quickly learn new systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work well independently and as part of a team – creating and maintaining good working relationships with all stakeholders.
• Ability to work well under pressure, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines whilst maintaining a high quality of work especially attention to detail.

Benefits

• Competitive financial package
• Employee discount
• 32 days holiday (Inclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Enhanced paternity/maternity provision
• Pension plan with company contributions plus a life assurance scheme
• Stream - a money management app that gives you access to your pay as you earn it
• Employee Assistance Programme and virtual GP service
• Discounts and rewards with selected partners
• Hybrid working model