Category Manager

Summary:

Manage the strategic development and planning for assigned category, as a subset of a larger group of categories led by the Senior Category Manager. Ensure category sales plans are consistent with the overall Merchandising strategy. Promote and verify execution of category strategy at the store, and ensure that the category fits into the total store perspective.

Responsibility

Sales & Planning

• Develop, manage and communicate sales plans for delegated categories and support additional categories as requested to support Senior CM in development of overall category sales plans.
• Complete entry for national sales planning tool, including de-averaged costs/retail, and new/expanded items/offers.
• Ensure marketing and POP are developed for all categories as determined by the Senior CM for the monthly sales plan; proof monthly solicitation for accuracy, make recommendations as necessary to support development of regional POP item forecasts.
• Facilitate vendor meetings and negotiate for delegated categories. Support Product Director and Senior Category Manager on day-to-day activities that include Strategic Pricing team as well as supporting Senior Category Manager in the preparation for and engagement in vendor meetings related to product assortment architecture and cost of goods negotiations.
• Develop and execute strategic merchandising initiatives such as roles and intents of categories, segmentation and vendor and product specific strategies.

Vendor or Supplier Relationships / Supply Chain Management

• Own and manage vendor relationships for assigned small categories as a primary contact and assist Senior CM in vendor relationships for key national relationships. Collaborate with Logistics, Senior Category Manager to ensure stable supply within the demand chain including close collaboration with Logistics team/partners. Ensure products are delivering on quality/value needs of customers.
• Negotiate delegated category offers, costs, bill-backs, allowances, terms, co-op media and other related opportunities; coordinate / communicate with Senior Category Manager.
• Ensure proper information provided for suppliers including product costs, bill-back, allowances, discounts, LDU’s, routing information, new item set up details and new vendor set up details.
• Provide forecasting information including initial committed inventories, historic sales, store turns, seasonality, past order frequency and cannibalization for all delegated categories and provide support for categories at request of the Senior CM in conjunction with Merchandiser and Category Specialist.

Assortment / Display Management (Including POP / Customer Messaging)

• Lead national schematics efforts on behalf of the Senior CM. Coordinate with Merchandiser to ensure regional sets are developed and in line with the national strategy. Review strategy and decisions with the Senior CM before implementation.
• Track all key sales metrics (sales/group/unit/margin) for delegated categories and additional categories as requested. Analyze and share insights with Senior Category Manager, Product Director, Zone Leader and other Operations leadership to driving improved results and enhance understanding of the business.
• Evaluate SSI and NRIs for further testing or expansion to ensure the optimal recommended assortment.
• Accountable for optimizing Gross Profit dollars within delegated category role and overall category growth. Conduct ongoing financial analysis of national sets by evaluating product SKU productivity.
• Develop and oversee in-store testing of potential new products, concepts and promotional activity within delegated categories and assist for other categories as requested. Optimize display management opportunities within assigned category and assigned zones.
• Support testing activity including preparation/delivering communication materials, tracking of results/feedback to Test areas/stores, verification in stores/Franchise feedback
• Assist with integration of roles and intents and segmentation into assortment decisions at the national and regional level. Work with vendors to introduce/expand new/existing items based on store and customer segments while retracting items in underperforming segments to optimize overall assortment.
• Coordinate SEE vendor sponsorships, samplings, and other events on a national and regional level for categories supported.
• Rework and troubleshoot outputs (decisions on proposed items, item setup, etc) and handing requests from accounting.

Conduit for Communication

• Provide point-of-view to Operational leadership based on CSA/marketplace understanding; be advocate for customer across the category – engage Operations to support.
• Assist Senior CM in communicate requirements, volume changes/sales plan, other key sales plan information to Division Logistics Manager/Logistics team and coordinate readiness for delivery.
• Assist the Senior CM in communicating integrated sales plans (national/zone) and ensure comprehensive delivery of necessary facts/data/SOP.
• Support Merchandiser in the coaching and development of the Operations team regarding best merchandising practices for the category at store level.

Education & Experience:

• 2-5 Years of Experience
• Bachelor's Degree Required

Specific Knowledge & Skills

• Strong Analytical Skills
• Effective Communication
• Negotiating Experience
• Understanding of Financial Methodology to determine cost and to develop annual business plan