Assistant Category Manager

Metro Inc.; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedule

Hybrid work schedule

Group insurance from the first day

Very competitive pension plan

Generous vacation policy

Personal days

Employee Assistance Program

Free parking

Professional development

Charging stations for electric cars

Job summary

METRO is hiring an Assistant Category Manager in Ontario to support category strategy, assortment, pricing and promotions. You will use internal and Nielsen data with the Category Manager to drive performance and planograms.

The role emphasizes collaboration across merchandising, pricing and promotional activities, with a focus on optimizing SKU mix and in-store execution. Occasional travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level business education or equivalent required.
• 3–5 years in Category Management with promotional planning/execution experience.
• Advanced Excel skills to produce effective spreadsheets, reports, and presentations.
• Proficiency with category management tools (MS Office, SAP, Nielsen).
• Attention to regulatory guidelines and ability to travel occasionally.

Responsibilities

• Assist Category Manager in setting objectives, financial goals, market penetration, and leadership positioning.
• Help develop sales and promotional plans, product distributions, and in-store activations.
• Maintain promotional calendar to maximize sales and profits in assigned categories.
• Recommend new/discontinued items to optimize SKU mix, space, and profitability.
• Implement pricing strategies in line with corporate guidelines.
• Contribute to category planograms based on profitability and sales plans.
• Define space allocation based on revenue and profit targets.
• Complete scheduled category reviews in assigned categories.
• Analyze retail history, advertising success, and product movement.
• Monitor competition and industry activities in merchandising, pricing, and promotions.
• Conduct bi-monthly competitive store visits.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Strong communication skills

Customer focused

Education

College Diploma or University studies in Business

Tools

MS Office

SAP

Nielsen

Job description

Assistant Category Manager

Job Requisition ID: 49309

Career Group (ADSP): Administration

Division: Food Basics Merchandising (80201542)

Department: Merchandising

Work Location: ON - 5559 DUNDAS STREET W

Province: Ontario

The typical salary range for this position is $69 840.00 - $96 030.00 annually. The base salary offered will be determined based on the candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, education, experience, and internal equity considerations.

Come take up new challenges and share your passion!

Joining Our Team Has Its Advantages

• Flexible schedule to promote work/life balance
• Hybrid work schedule
• Group insurance from the first day
• Very competitive pension plan
• Generous vacation policy
• Personal days
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free parking
• Opportunity for professional development
• Charging stations for electric cars

This is a posting for an existing permanent full-time position

Your Mission In The Team

The Assistant Category Manager (Food Basics) is responsible for providing support to the assigned category by utilizing both internal (BW) and external (AC Nielsen) data to assist the Category Manager to achieve performance targets and strategy-related activities including product assortment, promotion, pricing, and planograms.

Your Responsibilities As Assistant Category Manager

• Assist the Category Manager in developing overall category objectives, financial goals, market penetration and leadership positioning strategy for assigned categories.
• Assist in the development of sales and promotional plans including product distributions, advertising layouts, theme events, season opportunities and in-store activity to achieve category targets.
• Assist in maintaining promotional calendar to maximize sales and profits in the assigned categories.
• Working with the Category Manager, recommend new items and items to be discontinued, utilizing existing analyzing technologies to maximize SKU and assortment mix, space allocation, sales, profits and advertising effectiveness.
• Implement pricing strategies for categories and make recommendations in setting retail prices for individual items, in accordance with corporate guidelines for pricing.
• Assist the Category Manager in the development of total category planograms (POGs) based on such factors as long-term strategic profitability, customer satisfaction and weekly sales plans, along with input from business partners.
• Define space allocation based on targeted revenue and profit contributions.
• Complete scheduled category reviews in assigned categories.
• Conduct analyses of retail history, advertising success, product movement and overall category management.
• Modify category plans and objectives accordingly to meet overall sales and profit targets.
• Monitor all competitive and industry activities regarding merchandising, marketing, assortment, pricing, and promotions.
• Conduct bi-monthly competitive store visits to gain firsthand insight in all regions where they have responsibility.

The Qualifications We Are Looking For

• College Diploma or University studies in a Business or related field required.
• 3 - 5 years experience in a Category Management role, demonstrating an understanding of the promotional planning and execution process
• Advanced knowledge of Excel is required to produce effective, spreadsheets, reports, documents, and presentations, as required.
• Proficient in Category Management Tools (MS Office, SAP, Nielsen, etc.)
• Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations
• Occasional travel required.
• Attention to detail, creative thinking, ability to manage change, analytical thinking, strong communication skills and customer focused.

The responsibilities and relationships assigned to this role may change as is necessary to achieve Metro's business objectives.

Disclosure on Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

At METRO, we are committed to transparency and fairness in our hiring practices. In compliance with Ontario's Employment Standards Act (Bill 149), we disclose that METRO and certain third-party job boards we use incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) technology to assist in screening, assessing, or selecting applicants for positions.

The use of AI helps us efficiently review the large volume of applications we receive, ensuring that every candidate's profile is considered promptly and consistently. This technology supports our goal of providing an equitable and streamlined recruitment experience for all applicants. While AI tools support our recruitment procedures, all decisions throughout the process are made exclusively by METRO's Talent Acquisition team or METRO employees.

At no stage does AI determine recruitment outcomes.

METRO is committed to providing an inclusive work environment that reflects the communities we serve. The company values, respects and relies on the diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and points of view because it allows us to innovate, make better decisions and better understand our customers. We will consider qualified applications from all walks of life to build the best team.

We encourage you to let us know if your current condition requires accommodation in the recruitment process so that we can accommodate you.

Please note that we will only contact those whose applications are selected.