Category Manager

Role type: Full-time, permanent

Salary: £55-65K depending on experience

Location: Hybrid - Minimum 2 days a week at an Oddbox or supplier site, with requirement to travel to other locations when needed.
Our site options: Head Office Vauxhall, Packing Site Birmingham, Distribution Centre Croydon

Working pattern: 5 days a week, Monday to Friday

Start date: ASAP

About Oddbox

Oddbox is on a mission to tackle food waste, one of the most solvable climate challenges, responsible for nearly five times the emissions of the aviation sector. Our subscription service has already saved over 50 million kilograms of fruit and vegetables. Join our team to help create even greater impact and inspire more people to reduce food waste – one curvy cucumber at a time.

The Role

We’re looking for a strategic, customer-focused Category Manager to lead our fresh produce sourcing and help shape the commercial proposition at Oddbox.

You’ll be responsible for setting and delivering the sourcing strategy for our full range of fruit and vegetables — delighting customers with a seasonal, sustainable, and exciting selection each week. Working closely with our sourcing and technical teams, you'll ensure we partner with the best suppliers, source the best-quality surplus produce, and curate boxes that keep customers coming back for more.

As the business grows, this role will evolve to take on broader commercial ownership of our customer offering, including leading the development of new product ranges.

Key Responsibilities

🌶️ Define and deliver the strategic direction of Oddbox’s core and seasonal product range

🌶️ Lead the sourcing of fruit (with support from the Junior Buyer) and own the overall produce sourcing strategy

🌶️ Ensure a customer-led approach to range planning — balancing surplus opportunity, seasonality, and variety

🌶️ Manage and review supplier performance, driving quality, reliability, and innovation across our supply base

🌶️ Attend industry events, build partnerships, and grow Oddbox’s presence within the produce and sustainability space

🌶️ Own and manage the category cost base — securing competitive pricing and strong margins through smart negotiation and benchmarking

🌶️ Oversee the weekly box planning process to deliver compelling, well-balanced boxes for customers

🌶️ Develop and coach your team, providing leadership and growth opportunities for direct reports

🌶️ Monitor and drive key customer satisfaction and commercial KPIs

Required Experience

🍐Proven experience as a fruit buyer or category manager in the fresh produce industry

🍐Strong understanding of local and international supply chains

🍐Track record of sourcing produce via various models and countries of origin

🍐Experience analysing market and customer trends to influence product strategy

🍐Background in supplier or customer management within produce or FMCG

Required Skills

🍉 Strategic planning and category development

🍉 Highly organised and able to prioritise in a fast-moving, deadline-driven environment

🍉 Strong communication skills

🍉 Performance and relationship management with growers and suppliers

🍉 Strong commercial acumen and budget ownership

🍉 People leadership and team development

🍉 Risk management

🍉 Problem solving and adaptability

🍉 Spreadsheet and data analysis competency

🍇 Passionate about the Oddbox mission and committed to fighting food waste

🍇 Genuine love for the fresh produce industry

🍇 Commercially forward-thinking and embracing of change

🍇 Mindful, inclusive and collaborative team player

🍇 Positive, entrepreneurial, and solutions-oriented

🍇 Supportive and people-first leadership style

🍇 Self-motivated and comfortable working autonomously

Nice to Have

🥦 Experience across fruit, veg and salad categories

🥦 A strong network of growers and suppliers

🥦 Exposure to B2C, subscription or D2C businesses

🥦 Experience in sustainable food systems or surplus produce

Why join us?

🥝 Be part of a passionate, purpose-driven team working to tackle food waste – one of the most solvable climate challenges.

🥝 Drive real change within a sustainability-focused, tech-driven business.

🥝 Work in a hybrid, collaborative culture at our Vauxhall office.

🥝 Shape and lead mission-critical acquisition projects that directly impact growth and sustainability.

Our company benefits include:

🥝 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays), plus four "not-sick" days, and two volunteering days each year.

🥝 You’ll also get a £300 personal development budget, plenty of peer-to-peer learning opportunities, wellbeing support through YuLife, coaching via BeHappi, and receive discount on Oddbox products.

How to apply

If you’re motivated by ambitious growth and making a real difference in tackling one of the most solvable climate challenges, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help us make every wonky box count.