Advisor, Associate Category Management

What Category Management contributes to Cardinal Health

Marketing is responsible for assessing customer needs, market conditions and competition to inform business strategy. Marketing implements the strategy through developing, commercializing and monitoring the appropriate products and services.

Category Management is responsible for cross functional collaboration that helps to deliver sales, profitability and inventory productivity goals by capitalizing on retail marketplace and shopper trends in designated categories. Manages and optimizes supplier relationships and product portfolio to drive financial results, increase market share and exceed customer expectations.

Job Summary

The Associate Category Manager is responsible for driving sales, profitability, market share, and customer satisfaction for assigned product categories within Consumer Health. This role develops category strategies, manages supplier relationships, optimizes assortments, manages inventory productivity, and leverages market insights to deliver strong financial and operational results through cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies and merchandising programs to achieve sales, profit, and market share objectives
• Manage supplier relationships, negotiate agreements, and identify opportunities to grow category performance
• Lead assortment planning, product portfolio optimization, and planogram development
• Analyze sales, market, consumer, and competitive data to identify trends and drive business decisions
• Collaborate with Pricing, Marketing, Finance, Inventory Management, Sales, and Operations teams to execute category initiatives
• Monitor category financial performance, including revenue, margin, and inventory productivity, and recommend actions to improve results
• Build category expertise through market research, supplier engagement, and industry events
• Seek guidance as necessary from more experienced Manager, Category Management within same products division

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising, or a related field, preferred
• 2-4+ years of experience in category management, merchandising, sourcing, buying or merchandise planning, preferred
• Strong analytical, financial, negotiation, presentation and communication skills
• Experience using market and consumer data (e.g., NIQ, NielsenIQ, Circana/IRI) preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

What is expected of you and others at this level

• Applies comprehensive knowledge and a thorough understanding of concepts, principles, and technical capabilities to perform varied tasks and projects
• May contribute to the development of policies and procedures
• Works on complex projects of large scope
• Develops technical solutions to a wide range of difficult problems
• Solutions are innovative and consistent with organization objectives
• Completes work; independently receives general guidance on new projects
• Work reviewed for purpose of meeting objectives
• May act as a mentor to less experienced colleagues

Anticipated salary range: $82,100 – $105,480

Bonus eligible: No

Benefits:  Cardinal Health offers a wide variety of benefits and programs to support health and well-being.

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Paid time off plan
• Health savings account (HSA)
• 401k savings plan
• Access to wages before pay day with myFlexPay
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Work-Life resources
• Paid parental leave
• Healthy lifestyle programs

Application window anticipated to close: 11/15/2026 *if interested in opportunity, please submit application as soon as possible.

The salary range listed is an estimate. Pay at Cardinal Health is determined by multiple factors including, but not limited to, a candidate’s geographical location, relevant education, experience and skills and an evaluation of internal pay equity.

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Candidates who are back-to-work, people with disabilities, without a college degree, and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Cardinal Health supports an inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, experience and background. We celebrate the power of our differences to create better solutions for our customers by ensuring employees can be their authentic selves each day.