Senior Manager, Category Management, Retail

Senior Manager, Category Management, Retail

The Senior Manager, Category Management, Retail, is a key leader on the Enterprise Procurement team for Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques, Marriott's direct-to-consumer and wholesale retail business with products marketed under Marriott's hotel brands. This role is responsible for driving the implementation of merchandising plans through sourcing and inventory planning, overseeing product lifecycle management and serving as the primary point of contact for ecommerce procurement matters and reports to the Senior Director, Enterprise Procurement, Category Management, with dotted line reporting to the Director, Merchandising. The Senior Manager has core responsibilities in contract negotiations, vendor management, buying functions, and strategic sourcing while contributing to a retail experience that builds brand recognition and loyalty for our hotels and generates growth in retail sales. They partner closely with Merchandising Operations, Marketing, Brands, Procurement Operations and others to grow our retail business.

Education and Experience Required:

• 5+ years of experience in buying and/or product development and sourcing demonstrating progressive career growth and a pattern of exceptional performance.
• Experience in inventory and pricing analytics
• Experience in negotiating tactics, contract, and vendor management
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Macros and Pivot tables
• Bachelor's degree in business, finance or hospitality related field

Education and Experience Preferred:

• Graduate degree
• Experience at a high-growth ecommerce business or large retailer.
• Experience managing inventory and an open to buy.
• Strong interpersonal skills a collaborative mindset to be able to work with a broad group of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results in a complex and ambiguous environment.
• Experience in the hospitality market and knowledge of hotel operations a plus.

Core Work Activities:

• Supports objectives and revenue goals of Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques through negotiations and strategic sourcing while staying current on business trends to manage risks and optimize costs.
• Acts as a procurement business partner to business disciplines, providing guidance on category management, strategic sourcing, policy, and risk management.
• Works collaboratively with cross-functional teams across the enterprise and within Enterprise Procurement to incorporate retail efficiencies and partners with Finance to recommend new sourcing strategies, process improvements, and supplier relationships for the ecommerce business or enterprise.
• Leads the RFI/RFP development, contract scoping, and vendor selection process with a focus on retail design considerations, including packaging, minimum order quantities, warranty support, and logistics.
• Collaborates with Finance to evaluate product usage and costs and analyze KPIs and validate revenue streams such as rebates.
• Monitors inventory levels and purchase orders to meet demands and maintain contractual commitments.
• Leverages strong analytical and communication skills to lead and assist with all aspects of competitive bids, including analyzing, and presenting clear and concise summaries of recommended options.
• Works closely with merchandising to identify suppliers and source products which best support the merchandising plan including product and packaging design, budget, quality, and speed to market.
• Identifies and develops strategies to mitigate potential risks within the supply chain, ensuring business continuity and stability.
• Maintains and optimizes supplier relationships while monitoring pricing, compliance, troubleshooting issues and driving accountability.
• Works collaboratively with cross-functional teams across the enterprise and within Procurement to achieve shared goals.
• Partners with marketing and merchandising operation teams to launch new products and collections.
• Negotiates and manages manufacturer agreements and partners with global procurement to leverage strategic suppliers.
• Independently delivers strategic cross-functional projects to support the growth of Boutiques.