Category Manager

About the Opportunity

Are you a natural deal-maker, trend-spotter, and range-builder? Do you love turning insights into action and ideas into commercial wins? If you’re excited by the thought of shaping market-leading product categories and working closely with suppliers, stores, and internal stakeholders — we’d love to meet you.

We’re looking for a Category Manager who’s passionate about delivering smart, competitive, and profitable ranges that our customers love, and our stores are proud to sell.

You’ll be working within the Mitre 10 team, based in our Heatherton office, with the flexibility of a hybrid setup — three days in the office and two days from home. If you're excited by the idea of shaping market-leading product categories and working with passionate people across our network, this could be your next big move.

What you will be doing

• Driving the performance of your category — using smart planning, great relationships, and commercial instinct to hit targets and grow the business.
• Staying across trends, analysing the competitor landscape, and spotting opportunities before anyone else does.
• Building strong, collaborative partnerships with key suppliers — negotiating pricing, terms, promotions, and new product opportunities that benefit everyone.
• Owning the promotional marketing plan for your category, ensuring our brands stand out and our stores have what they need to succeed.
• Working with suppliers to develop and deliver effective training programs.
• Supporting our Independent Hardware Group stores with data-driven insights, category plans, and practical advice to help improve their performance.
• Developing customer-focused, competitive ranging and assortment plans that look great on paper and perform even better in store.
• Spending time in store (and in competitor stores!) to understand what’s working, what’s not, and where we can improve.
• Managing inventory to ensure stock efficiency, product availability, and maximum sales opportunities.
• Doing business the right way — fair, ethical, respectful, and always balancing the needs of the supplier, the company, and our members.

You’re likely a match if you are/have

• Strong communication skills and experience in category management, planning, and ranging.
• A commercial mindset with the ability to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• Advanced analytical skills — you turn numbers into insights and insights into action.
• Confidence in negotiations and relationship management.
• Solid understanding of merchandising, supplier management, and product ranging.
• Strong MS Office skills.
• A proactive, energetic, resilient attitude — you’re the kind of person who gets things done.
• A flexible, can-do mindset (non-negotiable!).

Who You Are

You’re someone who:

• Thinks big and acts strategically
• Works well with others and builds trust easily
• Loves learning and asking “why?”
• Stays agile in a changing market
• Handles pressure with resilience and optimism
• Delivers outcomes, not excuses

What’s on offer 

We’re proud to offer a workplace that supports your well-being, growth, and belonging: 

🏖️ Extra Leave: Enjoy a 5th week of annual leave, 2 well-being days, plus 1 volunteer day annually 

📚 Career Growth: Endless learning and development opportunities 

👶 Parental Leave: 12 weeks of gender-neutral paid leave for primary carers 

🌈 Inclusive Culture: Bronze Employer for LGBTQ Inclusion 

⚖️ Neutral Pay Gap: Gender pay gap under 5% (WGEA 2024–2025)  

🧠 Mental Health: Gold accreditation by Mental Health Australia 

🏡 Flexibility: Flex Ready and Family Friendly Workplace accredited 

About Us

At Total Tools & Hardware Group (Part of Metcash), we’re more than just a group of hardware and tool retailers — we’re a national network helping build stronger communities.

Backed by trusted brands like Mitre 10, Total Tools, and Home Timber & Hardware, TTHG supports independently owned, joint venture, and company-owned stores across Australia. With a strong focus on local ownership and expert advice, we give tradies, builders, and DIYers the edge they need to tackle any job — big or small. Whether it’s trade-quality tools from Total Tools or reliable hardware from Mitre 10 and HTH, TTHG is the powerhouse behind the stores that keep Australia building.

Happy Holidays! Please note Our Talent Acquisition Team will have limited coverage from 22nd December and will be back to normal operations on 5th January 2026.

We would like to wish you all the best for the festive season! 

#INHT

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