Category Manager

Food Basics; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedule

Telecommuting in hybrid mode

Free parking

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

METRO in Ontario seeks a Category Manager to lead a key grocery category, drive profitability, assortment, promotions, and vendor negotiations across stores and retail consumers. You will oversee planograms, SKU selection, and collaboration with Merchandising and Operations teams.

The role requires 5-7 years in retail, strong negotiation/analytical skills, and proficiency in MS Office; occasional travel is expected. This is a new temporary position through Oct 1, 2027, with a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• The role requires a college diploma or university degree in a business-related field.
• 5-7 years of retail experience in grocery, preferably in a management role.
• Strong negotiation and analytical skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Develop sales and promotional strategies including advertising layouts, theme events, seasonal opportunities and in-store demonstrations to achieve category targets.
• Create layouts for new stores, renovations and re-lines ensuring maximum impact and shopability while upholding Merchandising and Operations standards.
• Lead layout planning meetings with Merchandising and Operations leadership; use Spectra data and internal sales data to guide strategy store-by-store.
• Set objectives to meet overall sales and profit targets and ensure compliance with corporate guidelines.
• Ensure finalized files and planograms are updated and sent to Planogram team for uploading and archiving.
• Monitor market conditions and competitive activities to drive continuous improvement and innovation in the category.
• Maintain relationships with Store Managers, Merchandisers, Inventory Managers and others to resolve product/service questions.

Skills

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Communication

Customer service

Education

College Diploma or University degree in business-related field

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Position Title: Category Manager

Job Requisition ID: 49585

Career Group (ADSP): Administration

Division: Food Basics Merchandising (80201542)

Department: Stores Operations

Work Location: ON - 5559 DUNDAS STREET W

Province: Ontario

The typical salary range for this position is $90 240.00 - $124 080.00 annually. The base salary offered will be determined based on the candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, education, experience, and internal equity considerations.

This posting is for an new temporary position until October 1, 2027

Joining our team has its advantages!

• Flexible schedule to promote work/life balance
• Telecommuting in hybrid mode
• Free parking
• Opportunity for professional development

Summary

The Category Manager is responsible for managing the assigned category of products including profitability, sales, advertising, category planning, vendor negotiations, SKU selection, and customer service (stores and retail consumers).

Specific Responsibilities

• Develop sales and promotional strategies including advertising layout, theme events, seasonal opportunities and in-store demonstrations in order to achieve category targets.
• Creates and executes layouts for new stores, renovations and re-lines ensuring maximum impact, efficiency and shopability while upholdng Merchandising and Operations standards.
• Leads layout planning meetings with Merchandising and Operations VP's and DM's/Directors. Utilizes Spectra demographic research and internal sales data to steer strategy on a store by store basis.
• Accountable for meeting overall strategy and implementation. Implement overall strategies for initiatives and set retail objectives for category. Comply with corporate and regional guidelines.
• Ensures that finalized files (including maintenance planograms) have captured all Operations and Merchandising changes (changes are frequent) and are sent to the Planogram team to be uploaded and archived in the master file .
• Set objectives to meet overall sales and profit targets.
• Monitor all competitive and industry activities (including trends, fads, etc.) regarding merchandising, marketing, assortment, pricing and promotions and use findings to support continuous improvement and innovation in the category.
• Conduct biweekly competitive store visits to gain first hand insight.
• Modify category plans as needed to be responsive to customer needs.
• Identify consumer requirements and develop merchandising plans to meet those requirements.
• Maintain contact with Store Managers, Merchandisers, Inventory Managers, and others to answer questions or resolve issues regarding products or services in assigned business initiatives.
• Monitor market conditions that impact categories within the complete retail marketing place.
• Develop and enhance relationships with business partners.

Qualifications

• College Diploma or University degree in business related field
• 5-7 years of retail experience (preferably within a management role) within the grocery industry
• Strong negotiation and analytical skills
• Intermediate to Advanced level knowledge of MS office - Outlook, Word, Excel
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations
• Occasional travel required

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

At METRO, we are commited 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.

We respectfully request that agencies do not contact us or send us unsolicited applications.