📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Category Marketing Lead - Warehouse Stationery
🔹 Company: The Warehouse Group
🔹 Location: Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Retail
🔹 Date Posted: May 21, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and implementing category marketing strategies to drive sales, profitability, and brand growth for Warehouse Stationery.
- Leading a team of 2 Marketing Managers and collaborating cross-functionally with various teams to deliver cohesive marketing plans.
- Leveraging customer data and insights to inform strategy and drive commercial growth through responsive, data-led decisions.
- Managing aspects of the Marketing A&P budget to improve effectiveness and ROI.
- Growing and leading the BizRewards loyalty programme to drive new sign-ups, customer retention, and database reactivation.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic and adaptable marketer with a strong retail and B2B background, as well as leadership skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead category marketing strategy for your portfolio to effectively drive category sales, profitability, and brand growth.
✅ Plan and deliver integrated marketing, MTE, and promotional activities that support KPIs, trading calendars, and category performance across all channels.
✅ Leverage customer data and insights to inform strategy, optimize category plans, and drive commercial growth through responsive, data-led decisions.
✅ Collaborate cross-functionally with creative, merchandising, operations, media, and omni-experience teams to deliver a cohesive marketing plan.
✅ Manage agreed aspects of Marketing A&P budget efficiently across activity to improve effectiveness and ROI.
✅ Foster a high performing team culture for your team of 2x direct reports.
✅ Lead and grow the BizRewards loyalty programme, driving new sign-ups, customer retention, and database reactivation through targeted campaigns and initiatives.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning and hands-on execution, requiring a candidate who can comfortably switch between the two.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Experience: 5-10 years of experience in multi-channel retail marketing, with a strong trading mindset and a head for B2B.
Required Skills:
- Proven track record in category marketing and driving commercial growth.
- Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills.
- Data-driven and customer-centric mindset.
- Adaptable and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Courageous and bold thinker, comfortable testing new channels and spaces.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working with loyalty programmes.
- Familiarity with the New Zealand retail market.
- Knowledge of the Warehouse Stationery brand.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in a similar role within the retail industry will have a strong advantage.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Based on experience, the salary range for this role is estimated to be NZD 120,000 - 160,000 per annum. This is an estimate and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
Benefits:
- Free car parking on-site.
- EV charging facilities.
- Great discounts across brands.
- Birthday leave.
- Wellbeing support.
- Excellent opportunities for career growth within the business.
Working Hours: This role follows a standard full-time work arrangement, with up to 2 days per week working from home.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and industry standards for a role of this level within the New Zealand retail sector.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: The Warehouse Group operates in the retail industry, with a focus on general merchandise, stationery, and consumer electronics.
Company Size: The Warehouse Group is a mid-sized company with approximately 1,000-5,000 employees.
Founded: The Warehouse Group was founded in 1982, with Noel Leeming, the parent company of Warehouse Stationery, being founded in 1973.
Company Description:
- The Warehouse Group is home to iconic New Zealand brands, including The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, and Noel Leeming.
- The group's purpose is to help Kiwis live better every day by providing a wide range of products, services, and solutions for businesses, customers, and students.
- The Warehouse Group offers a dynamic and unique retail landscape, with multi-store formats, consumer and business segments, and various categories.
Company Specialties:
- General merchandise retail.
- Stationery and office supplies.
- Consumer electronics and appliances.
Company Website: http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/
ASSUMPTION: The Warehouse Group's diverse range of brands and retail formats offer unique opportunities for growth and career development within the company.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, reporting directly to the Head of Retail Marketing and having a dotted line to the GM of Warehouse Stationery.
Reporting Structure: The Category Marketing Lead will oversee a team of 2 Marketing Managers and collaborate with various cross-functional teams.
Work Arrangement: This role follows a hybrid work arrangement, with up to 2 days per week working from home.
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to a more senior marketing role within the company.
- Expansion of responsibilities to cover additional categories or brands.
- Development of leadership and management skills through team mentoring and coaching.
ASSUMPTION: Given the company's diverse range of brands and retail formats, there are ample opportunities for career growth and development within The Warehouse Group.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: The Warehouse Group's head office is located in Northcote, Auckland, with a hybrid work arrangement allowing for up to 2 days of remote work per week.
Office Location(s): 26 The Warehouse Way, Northcote, Auckland 0627, New Zealand
Geographic Context:
- Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, offering a vibrant urban environment with numerous cultural attractions, restaurants, and entertainment options.
- The Northcote area is conveniently located, with easy access to public transportation and nearby amenities.
- New Zealand's diverse and beautiful landscapes are within easy reach for weekend getaways and holidays.
Work Schedule: This role follows a standard full-time work arrangement, with core hours from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers a good balance between on-site collaboration and remote flexibility, allowing employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission.
- Phone or video screening with the HR team.
- First-round interview with the Head of Retail Marketing.
- Second-round interview with the GM of Warehouse Stationery and other key stakeholders.
- Final interview with the Chief Marketing Officer or another senior leader.
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and category marketing expertise.
- Leadership and team management skills.
- Data-driven decision-making and customer-centric mindset.
- Communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Cultural fit and alignment with The Warehouse Group's values.
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Prepare examples of your category marketing strategies and their outcomes to discuss during the interview.
- Research The Warehouse Group and Warehouse Stationery to demonstrate your understanding of the business and its market position.
- Prepare questions to ask the interview panel about the company, the team, or the role to showcase your interest and engagement.
ATS Keywords: Category marketing, retail marketing, B2B marketing, customer-centric, data-driven, leadership, team management, stakeholder management, marketing strategy, promotional activities, trading calendars, brand growth, commercial growth, loyalty programme, BizRewards
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role is likely to be comprehensive, with a focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, leadership skills, and cultural fit.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
- Customer relationship management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics).
- Marketing automation and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Marketing Cloud, Marketo).
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Microsoft Project).
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the candidate's previous experience and the company's existing tech stack.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-centric: Putting customers at the heart of everything we do.
- Integrity: Acting with honesty and fairness in all our interactions.
- One team: Working together to achieve our common goals.
- Innovation: Embracing change and continuously improving.
- Excellence: Striving for the highest standards in all our endeavors.
Work Style:
- Collaborative: Working closely with cross-functional teams to deliver cohesive marketing plans.
- Adaptable: Thriving in a fast-paced environment and responding to changing priorities.
- Data-driven: Making informed decisions based on customer insights and market trends.
- Customer-focused: Always keeping the customer at the forefront of our strategies and campaigns.
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have a proven track record of driving commercial growth through category marketing strategies?
- Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and adapting to changing priorities?
- Do you possess strong leadership skills and the ability to coach and mentor team members?
- Are you passionate about delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving brand growth?
ASSUMPTION: The Warehouse Group values a customer-centric, collaborative, and innovative work culture, with a strong focus on excellence and integrity.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The dynamic and fast-paced nature of the retail industry may require quick decision-making and adaptability.
- Balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution may be challenging for some candidates.
- The role involves managing a team and collaborating with various cross-functional teams, which may require strong stakeholder management skills.
- The hybrid work arrangement may present challenges in maintaining effective communication and collaboration with team members and stakeholders.
ASSUMPTION: The potential challenges associated with this role are outweighed by the opportunities for growth, development, and impact within the dynamic and unique retail landscape offered by The Warehouse Group.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other category marketing roles, this position offers a unique opportunity to work across multiple store formats, consumer and business segments, and categories within a single retail brand.
- In the New Zealand retail market, The Warehouse Group is a well-established and respected player, providing ample opportunities for career growth and development.
- This role offers a clear career path, with the opportunity to progress to more senior marketing roles within the company or expand responsibilities to cover additional categories or brands.
ASSUMPTION: The unique retail landscape offered by The Warehouse Group sets this role apart from similar positions in the market, providing a compelling opportunity for the right candidate.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and implementing a targeted marketing campaign to drive category sales and profitability for a specific product line within Warehouse Stationery.
- Conducting customer research and analysis to identify trends and insights, and using these findings to inform category marketing strategies and campaigns.
- Collaborating with the creative team to develop engaging and on-brand marketing materials that resonate with the target audience and drive customer engagement.
ASSUMPTION: The specific projects undertaken in this role will vary depending on the candidate's skills, experience, and the evolving needs of the business.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current category marketing strategies for Warehouse Stationery, and how this role will contribute to their evolution?
- How does the team structure and dynamics support effective collaboration and cross-functional working?
- What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role, and how will success be measured?
- How does The Warehouse Group support the professional development and growth of its marketing team members?
- What are the most challenging aspects of working in a hybrid environment, and how does the company address these challenges?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and well-researched questions during the interview process demonstrates the candidate's interest in the role and engagement with the company's mission and values.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role, using the ATS keywords provided.
- Prepare examples of your category marketing strategies and their outcomes to discuss during the interview.
- Research The Warehouse Group and Warehouse Stationery to demonstrate your understanding of the business and its market position.
- Prepare questions to ask the interview panel about the company, the team, or the role to showcase your interest and engagement.
- Follow up with the HR team one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and inquire about the next steps in the interview process.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
