Category Manager

Company: FleetPride
Location: Irving
Posted on: February 23, 2021

Job Description:

The--Category Manager--is responsible for all product line strategy, planning, pricing, marketing, sourcing and supply management, and for assigned product lines. Drawing support from analytic and technical expertise in the department and across the company, the Product Category Manager will drive merchandising strategies that maximize total contribution, while meeting key business objectives such as quality, availability, and security of supply. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES* Partner with business leadership and field operations to understand customer needs and develop near-term and long-term strategies for assigned categories. Lead periodic, cross-functional line reviews that set the product line pricing, marketing, sourcing, and supply management strategies that drive sales and overall contribution margins for each product category. Leverage sales trends, spend analytics, external market intelligence, and competitive information to enable fact-based decision making. Accountable for full lifecycle management.* Optimize pricing to maximize sales and contribution for each product line. Ensure that the right products are marketed at the right stores, at the right price quantity. Manage promotions, advertising, product line changes, and other marketing initiatives. Collaborate with the Pricing team to manage POS system date and processes. Work with field operations and support functions to extend and or rationalize product lines to meet and/or drive future customer demand.* Drive supplier negotiations in alignment with the Chief Procurement Officer to support category strategies and financial targets with OEM, and third party branded, and private label suppliers. Evaluate all sources of supply, including overseas and low cost country suppliers. Use market expertise and data analytics to achieve best cost of product and supply assurance. Develop comprehensive implementation and communications plans with field and distribution operations.* Optimize product offerings, quality, inventory, and security of supply by developing and managing supplier relationships. Ensure suppliers are performing to contracted service levels and meeting field expectations. When performance issues emerge, lead interactions with suppliers to ensure efficient resolution. Engage with regularly to drive innovation and remain current with industry trends and technologies.EDUCATION & TRAINING* Bachelor's degree in business or equivalent required; MBA preferred.* Intermediate to advanced user knowledge of Microsoft, including database, spreadsheet, good working knowledge of ERP and POS systemsKNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE* 8+ years merchandising experience with hard goods, including 3+ years of product line leadership experience* Significant experience with professional category management including product line strategy reviews, planning, and product specification creation across a series of categories* Expertise in supplier management; able to engage with suppliers to drive current performance and future product line technology and innovation* Expertise in product pricing and marketing; embrace fact based decision making and naturally seeks to leverage sales data, spend analytics, and competitive intelligenceSKILLS & ABILITIES* Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal and presentation skills; comfortable and credible with both internal stakeholders and external audiences* Ability to travel up to 25%

Keywords: FleetPride, Irving , Category Manager, Executive , Irving, Texas