Category Manager

Essential Functions

• Supports national and regional strategic direction.
• Owns frontline pricing decisions (with promotional guidance from National or Regional for floor/ceiling).
• Responsible for vendor operations and local relationships.
• Responsible for planogram implementation – resets (including all 3rd party relationships).
• Selects local vendors, negotiates costs, terms for products, and develops schematics by applying category management principles in accordance with the department's National and Regional strategic objectives.
• Increases sales revenues by developing promotional concepts and overlay programs on local assortment; develops Contributes to team effort by accomplishing Financial and Key Result Area targets pursuant to Company plan guidelines.
• Foster positive relationships between the National, Regional and Business Unit team and Operational team.
• Supports pilots/testing activities, including preparation and delivering communication materials. Also tracks of results and feedback to the appropriate team.
• Establishes and monitors gross margins by forecasting and developing annual sales quotas, projecting expected sales volume and profit for existing and new products and determining placement and promotions.
• Projects and measures category sales and gross profit results by developing and maintaining records of item cost, retail, and gross margin dollars.
• Maintains external local and national vendor relations by providing direction, guidance, and information, resolving concerns.
• Recommends changes in products, service, and policy by evaluating results and competitive developments.
• Achieves financial objectives by preparing an annual category review, budget, scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances, initiating corrective actions.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reading professional publications, establishing personal networks; or participating in professional societies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in advertising, business, or related field preferred.
• Five years of experience or more preferred; including a minimum of three years of management responsibility.
• Expertise in MS Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word preferred.
• Strong relationship management, analytical thinking, and financial acumen skills.
• May require up to 30% of travel.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Physical Requirements

• Complete physical activity inventory of the position includes: Sit for long periods of time. Operate computer keyboard and mouse for data entry. View computer monitor. Hear and speak via telephone. Reach forward and/or overhead. Occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate at a normal range.
• The lighting will include natural light from the outside as well as fluorescent lighting throughout the work areas.
• Work with minimum direction and periodic supervision.