Senior Category Manager

Senior Category Manager

Our client has an immediate opening for a Senior Category Manager. The Sr Category Mgr plays a pivotal role in driving strategic product selection, procurement, and merchandising initiatives for. This position is critical to maintaining a competitive edge in the convenience store industry by ensuring a high-performing product portfolio that meets member retailer demands. The Senior Category Manager leads vendor relationships, leverages market insights, and employs data-driven decision-making to optimize pricing, promotions, and inventory availability. By continuously evaluating category performance and market trends, this role enhances member value, supports operational efficiency, and contributes directly to the cooperative's growth and sustainability.

Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain strategic vendor partnerships to secure favorable pricing, quality, and service levels.
• Develop and execute purchase plans to ensure consistent product availability aligned with demand forecasts.
• Conduct ongoing market research through trade publications, trade shows, and competitive shopping to identify emerging trends and opportunities.
• Analyze sales, inventory, and market data to identify consumer behavior, category performance, and growth potential.
• Determine optimal pricing strategies and promotional plans to drive sales and margin performance.
• Lead SKU rationalization efforts to maintain a lean, high-value product portfolio and eliminate underperforming items.
• Recommend actions for low-performing products, including discontinuation, substitution, or replacement.
• Facilitate quarterly vendor performance reviews to assess product success and alignment with member needs.
• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies for new products, managing projects from concept through full launch.
• Monitor daily operational reports—including out-of-stock alerts, price changes, and pending purchase orders—to ensure timely resolution.
• Provide tactical support to Warehouse Department Heads to align procurement with distribution and fulfillment needs.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of procurement or category management experience in retail, C-store, or consumer goods.
• Proven expertise in data analysis, trend forecasting, and category performance optimization.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and SAP or similar ERP systems.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation.
• Occasional travel required

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