Category Manager

Key Responsibilities

• Develop category plans for assigned vending, micro-market, office coffee services, and adjacent channels. 
• Define category roles, customer needs, growth priorities, product architecture, and financial objectives. 
• Use customer insights, market trends, competitive intelligence, and performance data to identify growth opportunities. 
• Translate strategy into clear assortment, pricing, promotional, financial, and execution requirements. 
• Recommend regional or channel variations when supported by customer demand or operating needs. 

• Manage approved assortments, product mix, SKU productivity, and lifecycle decisions. 
• Evaluate products using sales velocity, margin, cost trends, waste, stockouts, customer preferences, and operational requirements. 
• Lead new item introductions, tests, substitutions, rationalization, discontinuations, and approved exceptions. 
• Coordinate approved product transitions with Merchandising, Operations, Procurement, suppliers, and other affected teams. 
• Lead client and healthy program management, including approved assortments, nutritional information, product requirements, program standards, performance, and ongoing optimization. 

• Execute enterprise pricing strategy within assigned categories and maintain appropriate price architecture and tiers. 
• Monitor gross margin and recommend pricing, assortment, mix, cost, or supplier actions to achieve financial goals. 
• Evaluate supplier cost changes, rebates, incentives, and purchasing programs with Procurement and Finance. 
• Develop promotional recommendations, including products, price points, timing, funding, and expected outcomes. 
• Review promotional results and improve waste economics through pack size, shelf life, supplier terms, and assortment decisions. 

• Maintain category scorecards covering sales, units, margin, mix, SKU productivity, waste, availability, promotions, compliance, and supplier performance. 
• Monitor compliance with approved assortments, planogram direction, pricing, promotions, and category standards. 
• Partner with Merchandising and Operations to identify execution gaps, establish corrective actions, and track completion. 
• Use performance data, field feedback, and commercial judgment to identify root causes and prioritize action. 
• Prepare executive-ready business reviews that communicate performance, risks, opportunities, financial impact, and recommendations. 

• Serve as the primary category contact for suppliers and align capabilities, costs, terms, service, innovation, and growth programs with category strategy. 
• Evaluate supplier proposals for customer relevance, financial return, operational feasibility, strategic fit, and incremental value. 
• Hold suppliers accountable for agreed funding, service levels, product information, and performance commitments. 
• Provide Merchandising with approved assortments, planogram direction, space guidance, pricing, transition timing, and financial targets. 
• Partner across functions to support launches, customer needs, acquisitions, new business openings, and business transitions. 

• Improve category tools, reporting standards, data quality, and operating rhythms. 
• Balance customer value, financial performance, supplier programs, and operational practicality in decision making. 
• Lead, coach, and develop assigned team members by setting clear expectations, priorities, and accountability. 
• Provide regular feedback, development planning, and ongoing support to strengthen category management capabilities. 
• Support recruiting, onboarding, training, and knowledge sharing to build team capacity and ensure continuity. 
• Foster a collaborative, results-oriented culture focused on ownership, responsiveness, and continuous improvement. 

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, Analytics, or a related field preferred. 
• 2+ years of experience in category management, merchandising, pricing, retail, foodservice, convenience, consumer products, or a related multi-site environment. 
• Strong understanding of category strategy, assortment optimization, planogram development, pricing, margin drivers, supplier programs, and promotional effectiveness. 
• Strong financial and analytical skills with the ability to convert performance data into actionable recommendations. 
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives across Operations, Finance, Procurement, Sales, Marketing, Merchandising, and Analytics. 
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications. 
• Strong communication, organization, and decision-making skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities. 

Benefits

• Health Coverage – Medical, Dental and Vision
• Voluntary Life/AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Critical Illness
• 401(k)
• Paid Time Off
• Wellness Programs
• Additional Perks