Head of Tiles (Category & Buying) - #2196335

About us

UK Trade Furnishings is an established UK flooring retailer, with multiple successful brands. We sell direct to homeowners and trade customers across the UK, backed by our own marketing, sales, customer service and warehouse teams.

We are now launching a tile range sourced direct from manufacturers, including factories in India. This is a new category for us, and we want someone who knows tiles to own it from day one.

Purpose of the role

You will own our tile business end to end. That means choosing what we sell and who we buy it from, and making sure our existing teams can sell, deliver and support it well. Our sales, customer service, marketing and warehouse teams are already in place. Your job is to bring the tile expertise and adapt how they work where tiles need something different.

Key responsibilities

Range and suppliers

• Build and manage a tile range that sells to UK homeowners
• Decide stock depth, reorder points and when to drop slow lines
• Manage factory relationships, including negotiating price, MOQs and lead times
• Set packaging and labelling specs, and run quality control and supplier claims
• Make sure products meet UK standards and carry the correct technical data

Customer and front end

• Own how tiles appear on our websites, including category structure, product pages, imagery and technical information
• Work with marketing on merchandising, promotions and pricing
• Train sales and customer service on tile technicals (rectified, PEI, slip ratings, adhesives and grout) and aftercare
• Track conversion, reviews and return reasons, and act on them

Operations

• Review our existing warehouse, delivery and returns processes and adapt them for tiles, covering handling, storage, palletising and breakage
• Work with our current delivery partners on what tiles need, including damage claims
• Plan inbound shipments and keep core lines in stock
• Add tile-specific SOPs and KPIs to the ones we already have

Commercial ownership

• Own tile sales, margin, sell-through, breakage and returns targets, reporting to the MD
• Plan and grow the tile business beyond launch

Essential experience and skills

• 5+ years in a senior buying, category, trading or operations role at a sizeable UK tile retailer or distributor, ideally B2C or omnichannel
• A track record of building tile ranges that sell to consumers
• Experience working with overseas manufacturers, from sampling through to shipment
• Strong knowledge of tile technicals, packaging, fulfilment, breakage and returns
• Able to adapt existing processes and influence teams you don't directly manage
• Commercially minded and confident using data to make decisions

Desirable experience

• Sourcing direct from tile manufacturers
• Running tile product content and merchandising on an e-commerce platform such as Magento
• Familiarity with import, shipping and landed-cost calculations
• Previous involvement in a new category or range launch

What success looks like

First 6 months

• Launch range finalised and on sale
• Packaging and QC standards agreed with every supplier
• Existing warehouse, delivery and returns processes adapted for tiles
• Tile product pages complete, and sales and customer service confident on tiles
• Breakage and returns tracked against agreed targets

First 12 months

• Tile business hitting agreed sales, margin and sell-through targets
• Breakage and returns at or below target, with reliable stock on core lines
• A dependable supplier base with agreed terms and lead times
• A clear plan for year two, based on sales data and customer feedback

What we offer

• Salary of £60,000 - £80,000 depending on experience
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free on-site parking
• Casual dress code
• Regular team socials and company events, including our Fantasy League, Bake Off, tournament sweepstakes and annual Cheltenham Challenge

To apply, send your CV and a short cover note explaining your experience.

Strictly no recruitment agencies.

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Work Location: Hybrid remote in Leeds LS12 2DU