Position Overview: 

The Category Manager is responsible for managing a specific product category, ensuring the right products are available to meet customer demand and achieving category sales and profitability targets. This involves developing and executing strategies related to product assortment, pricing, promotions, and vendor management. The Category Manager works closely with cross-functional teams such as marketing, sales, finance, and supply chain to drive category performance. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Category Strategy Development: 

• Develop and execute a category strategy aligned with overall business goals. 

• Analyze market trends, customer behavior, and competitive landscape to inform category decisions. 

• Define and prioritize key growth areas for the category, identifying opportunities for new products, services, or market segments. 

Product Assortment Management: 

• Oversee product selection, ensuring a balanced and competitive assortment that meets customer needs. 

• Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to review product performance and adjust the product range as needed. 

• Lead the introduction of new products and discontinuation of underperforming products. 

Pricing & Promotions: 

• Develop and implement competitive pricing strategies to maximize category profitability. 

• Collaborate with marketing teams to plan and execute promotional activities and sales events. 

• Monitor the impact of promotions on category sales and adjust strategies accordingly. 

Vendor Management: 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, negotiating pricing, terms, and delivery schedules. 

• Collaborate with vendors to ensure timely product availability and resolve any supply chain issues. 

• Track and manage vendor performance, ensuring compliance with agreements and service level expectations. 

Sales & Profitability Analysis: 

• Monitor category performance through key metrics such as sales, margin, and inventory turnover. 

• Analyze sales data to identify trends, forecast demand, and optimize product mix. 

• Provide actionable insights and recommendations to senior leadership on category performance. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration: 

• Work closely with the marketing, sales, finance, and supply chain teams to ensure effective execution of category strategies. 

• Coordinate with the supply chain team to ensure optimal inventory levels and timely product replenishment. 

• Collaborate with the finance team to develop budgets, track expenditures, and analyze category profitability. 

Customer Insights & Market Research: 

• Conduct regular customer surveys and gather insights to understand customer preferences and needs. 

• Monitor competitor activity and market conditions to stay ahead of trends and make informed decisions. 

Reporting & Presentations: 

• Prepare regular reports on category performance, highlighting key successes and areas for improvement. 

• Present findings and strategies to senior leadership and other stakeholders. 

Key Skills & Qualifications: 

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, retail management, or a related field. An MBA is a plus. 

​Experience: 

• 3-5 years of experience in category management, retail merchandising, or product management. 

• Category experience in plumbing.

• Experience in negotiating with suppliers and managing product assortments. 

• Proven track record of driving category sales and profitability. 

Skills: 

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret data to make strategic decisions. 

• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other business intelligence tools  

• Strong understanding of market dynamics, customer trends, and product life cycles. 

• Project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. 

Working Environment: 

• Full-time position, typically working in an office or hybrid setting. 

• Occasional travel may be required to meet with vendors or attend industry events.