Assistant Category Manager - Medik8

Assistant Category Manager • Medik8 Reports: Category Manager Location: London Victoria, Hybrid Package: Competitive salary + annual bonus About the Role: As Assistant Category Manager you support the Category Manager in the day-to-day management of our clinical skincare brand partnerships, with a primary focus on Medik8 and Epicutis. You are the engine behind the category plan – maintaining regular contact with suppliers and internal stakeholders, preparing the analysis and materials that underpin commercial decisions, and landing the execution of agreed initiatives. You sit within the core Commercial Team and work closely with marketing, supply chain, education and sales to deliver consistent, profitable category growth across skincare brands. About Healthxchange: Founded in 2000, Healthxchange is the leading supplier of medical aesthetic products and services to professionals across the UK & Ireland. Healthxchange proudly partner with award-winning brands including Obagi Medical, Medik8 and Jane Iredale to strategically commercialise their products in market. We currently supply over 9,000 clinics with a full range of products (Skincare, Injectables, Energy-based devices) and services (software & education) to support their 360 business needs. The company offers a dynamic environment for innovation and growth in the medical aesthetic space. Responsibilities: Account and supplier management Support the day-to-day account management of Medik8 and Epicutis, acting as a reliable first point of contact for routine supplier queries and escalating or coordinating input across functions as appropriate. Maintain regular, structured contact with both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring actions are followed up and closed out, hitting agreed deadlines. Build strong working relationships with supplier contacts to support long-term, collaborative partnerships. Prepare agendas, packs and follow-up notes for supplier meetings and quarterly performance reviews. Commercial planning and activation Support the Category Manager in the development of Joint Business Plans for each brand and annual commercial agreements, collating the data and background needed for any negotiations. Build and execute promotional activation plans that deliver robust year-on-year trade over, ensuring all activity is compliant with regulatory requirements. Track and reconcile brand funding and supplier support, ensuring agreed investment is claimed and recorded accurately. Maintain and improve the mechanisms used to measure event and promotional performance, sharing learnings back into future planning activation. Analysis and reporting Produce regular sales reporting, alongside margin and stock analysis for the skincare category, highlighting risks and opportunities. Consolidate analysis into clear, concise summaries suitable for senior internal stakeholders and supplier audiences. Support forecasting and new product launch planning in conjunction with marketing and supply chain. Maintain accurate product, pricing and promotional data across internal systems. Cross-functional working and market awareness Work closely with marketing, education and sales leads to represent the voice of the brands and ensure communication is consistent across channels. Support the delivery of brand campaigns, training and events, coordinating internal input to agreed deadlines. Monitor the external clinical skincare market, competitor activity and emerging brands, flagging opportunities to enhance our plans. Requirements: Essential: Minimum 1–2 years' experience in a commercial, category, buying, account management or corporate customer-facing role within a fast-paced environment. Confident using Excel, with the ability to analyse data and draw out the core message. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence across functions and seniorities. Detail orientation with robust organisational and prioritisation skills. A proactive problem solver who takes ownership of tasks through to completion. Commercially minded, with an awareness of the P&L impact of key decisions. Competent across Microsoft Office. Desirable: Experience within beauty, skincare, aesthetics, pharmacy or another regulated consumer category. Exposure to supplier negotiation, joint business planning or promotional planning.