Associate Category Strategist AV

The Associate Category Strategist supports the Category Managers in the AV category by owning the tactical, day-to-day commercial activities that keep thesupplierportfolio running.In addition to this support function, the Associate Strategist independently manages a portfolio of suppliers,includingdeveloping and executing commercial plans, owning supplier relationships, and delivering against revenue and margin targets. Bycombining hands-on tactical execution with independent portfolio ownership, the Associate Strategist buildsthe commercialjudgment, supplier relationship skills, and cross-functional fluencyrequiredto manage a larger, more strategic supplier portfolio. Job Duties: Tactical Support to Category Managers Ownthe tactical, day-to-day functions of the category. Coordinate supplier onboardinglogisticsfor new vendors being brought into the category. Handle ad-hoc data pulls, competitive analysis, and forecast inputs in partnership with the Category Analyst. Coordinate with Operations andPurchasing oninventory issues, IOS (Inactive, Obsolete, Surplus) discipline, and stocking questions on behalf of the Category Manager. Serve as aLevel-2commercial escalationpointfor the Category Manager’s broader portfolio, fielding pricing,program, and process questions fromthe Sales team,Market Development Specialists,and the Category Analyst. Prepare briefing materials, market summaries, and supplier performance snapshots for Category Manager review. Own Supplier Portfolio Serve as the day-to-day commercial owner of an assigned portfolio of suppliers. Develop and execute astrategicplan for each assigned supplier. Set pricing strategy for the assigned portfolio in partnership with Purchasing. Lead quarterly business reviews (QBRs) andmaintainworking-level supplier relationships independently. Own Annual Operating Plan (AOP)targets forthe assigned portfolio including revenue, margin, and growth. HandleLevel-2andLevel-3escalations for the owned supplier portfolio. Manage IOS discipline and working-capital targets for assigned suppliers. Evaluate emerging or niche suppliers and provide recommendations to the Category Manager on portfolio additions. Cross-Functional Coordination Partner with Operations,Purchasing, Marketing, and Sales to drive execution on both the Category Manager’s portfolio and the owned supplier portfolio. Coordinate with the Category Analyst to ensure data accuracy and reporting coverage for the owned portfolio. Reporting & Analysis Produce monthly performance reports for the owned supplier portfolio including revenue, margin, mix, and growth vs. AOP. Support the Category Manager with portfolio-level reporting, trend analysis, and QBR content for their broader supplier portfolio. Conduct competitive analysis and market research to inform commercial decisions.

YOU MUST HAVE:

3–5years of experience in supplier management, category management, commercial operations, or an analytical role in a B2B distribution environment. Strong organizational skills with the ability to successfully handle multiple projects at the same time. Demonstrated experience supporting or executing commercial strategies for a supplier or product portfolio. Experience coordinating cross-functionallywith Sales, Marketing, Operations, and/orPurchasing. Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable commercial recommendations. Proficient with Excel, BI dashboards, and CRM tools. Strong written and verbal communication,comfortable onsupplier calls, internal stand-ups, and cross-functional meetings. Ability to travel (~5–10%) for supplier meetings, QBRs, and select industry events.

WE VALUE:

Experience in AV, low-voltage, security, or related B2B distribution categories. Hands-on experience with supplier QBR preparation, pricing administration, or program management. Exposure to joint business planning, rebate negotiation, or contract administration. Strong financial acumen including familiarity with margin, mix, forecasting, and working capital concepts. Process-oriented mindset. Comfort with AI-assisted reporting and analytical tools. Curiosity about the AV category and a desire to grow into a full Category Strategist role. Project management skills and the ability to juggle multiple supplier initiatives concurrently. #J-18808-Ljbffr SBG