Category Manager

Job Title

Duties and responsibilities:

- Oversee multiple categories at one time with a focus on commodity buying.

- Identify and evaluate manufacturers, negotiate contracts, and establish relationships to secure the best terms and quality products.

- Conduct in-store research to understand market dynamics, pricing trends, and competitor activity, ensuring informed decision-making.

- Work closely with other departments, including Food Service and Operations, to support product launches and promotional efforts.

- Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for category management, aligned with overall business objectives and marketing trends.

- Stay abreast of industry trends, best practices, emerging technologies, and user behavior to drive continuous improvement.

- Assist the department in planning, coordinating, and executing community events both online and offline.

- Develop monthly presentations and provide weekly updates for Operations and internal teams on purchasing initiatives.

- Provide regular reports on key performance indicators (KPIs) and make data-driven recommendations.

- Analyze costs and identify opportunities for savings, aiming to improve profit margins without compromising quality.

- Prepare reports that detail category performance and market insights.

- Responsible for category performance as relates to profit margins and sales performance.

- Ability to travel to offsite meetings as required for meetings, events, or other job-related activities.

- Other projects as determined.

Skills and Experience:

- A Bachelor's degree is preferred.

- Must have 5-10 years or more of relevant retail industry experience.

- Strong attention to detail.

- Time and project management skills are required.

- The ability to work well in a team, collaborative and horizontal environment.

- Comfortable using technology to accelerate efficiency.

- Strong written and spoken negotiation and communications skills with exceptional customer service.

- The ability to work occasional early mornings due to travel to meetings and stores.

- Ability to work in a corporate office setting, occasionally remote as approved by the supervisor.