Associate Category Strategist AV

About the role

The Associate Category Strategist supports the Category Managers in the AV category by owning the tactical, day-to-day commercial activities that keep the supplier portfolio running. In addition to this support function, the Associate Strategist independently manages a portfolio of suppliers, including developing and executing commercial plans, owning supplier relationships, and delivering against revenue and margin targets. By combining hands-on tactical execution with independent portfolio ownership, the Associate Strategist builds the commercial judgment, supplier relationship skills, and cross-functional fluency required to manage a larger, more strategic supplier portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Tactical Support to Category Managers
  • Own the tactical, day-to-day functions of the category
  • Coordinate supplier onboarding logistics for new vendors being brought into the category
  • Handle ad-hoc data pulls, competitive analysis, and forecast inputs in partnership with the Category Analyst
  • Coordinate with Operations and Purchasing on inventory issues, IOS (Inactive, Obsolete, Surplus) discipline, and stocking questions on behalf of the Category Manager
  • Serve as a Level-2 commercial escalation point for the Category Manager's broader portfolio, fielding pricing, program, and process questions from the Sales team, Market Development Specialists, and the Category Analyst
  • Prepare briefing materials, market summaries, and supplier performance snapshots for Category Manager review
• Own Supplier Portfolio
  • Serve as the day-to-day commercial owner of an assigned portfolio of suppliers
  • Develop and execute a strategic plan for each assigned supplier
  • Set pricing strategy for the assigned portfolio in partnership with Purchasing
  • Lead quarterly business reviews (QBRs) and maintain working-level supplier relationships independently
  • Own Annual Operating Plan (AOP) targets for the assigned portfolio including revenue, margin, and growth
  • Handle Level-2 and Level-3 escalations for the owned supplier portfolio
  • Manage IOS discipline and working-capital targets for assigned suppliers
  • Evaluate emerging or niche suppliers and provide recommendations to the Category Manager on portfolio additions
• Cross-Functional Coordination
  • Partner with Operations, Purchasing, Marketing, and Sales to drive execution on both the Category Manager's portfolio and the owned supplier portfolio
  • Coordinate with the Category Analyst to ensure data accuracy and reporting coverage for the owned portfolio
• Reporting & Analysis
  • Produce monthly performance reports for the owned supplier portfolio including revenue, margin, mix, and growth vs. AOP
  • Support the Category Manager with portfolio-level reporting, trend analysis, and QBR content for their broader supplier portfolio
  • Conduct competitive analysis and market research to inform commercial decisions

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in supplier management, category management, commercial operations, or an analytical role in a B2B distribution environment
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to successfully handle multiple projects at the same time
• Demonstrated experience supporting or executing commercial strategies for a supplier or product portfolio
• Experience coordinating cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and/or Purchasing
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable commercial recommendations
• Proficient with Excel, BI dashboards, and CRM tools
• Strong written and verbal communication, comfortable on supplier calls, internal stand-ups, and cross-functional meetings
• Ability to travel 5–10% for supplier meetings, QBRs, and select industry events

Qualifications

• Experience in AV, low-voltage, security, or related B2B distribution categories
• Hands-on experience with supplier QBR preparation, pricing administration, or program management
• Exposure to joint business planning, rebate negotiation, or contract administration
• Strong financial acumen including familiarity with margin, mix, forecasting, and working capital concepts
• Process-oriented mindset
• Comfort with AI-assisted reporting and analytical tools
• Curiosity about the AV category and a desire to grow into a full Category Strategist role
• Project management skills and the ability to juggle multiple supplier initiatives concurrently

Pay

The typical hiring salary for this role ranges from USD $92,570 to $157,630 per year but varies by specific work location. For example, the hiring salary for this role in Melville, NY is $111,084 to $189,156 per year and New York City, NY is $115,712.50 to $197,037.50. Within a range, our company determines base pay for an individual based on various factors, including market conditions, skills, and experience.

Benefits

• Life and health insurance
• Life assistance program
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Disability insurance
• 401k Plan
• Vacation and holidays

Schedule

Full time