Category Manager (24 Month Contract)

Force Inspection Services; Springwater; On-site; CAD 62,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

Force Inspection Services in Springwater, Ontario is seeking a Category Manager responsible for developing and executing category strategies, managing supplier performance, and coordinating cross-functional teams. You will lead planning, inventory optimization, negotiations, and budgeting while mentoring Category Specialists and driving continuous improvement across the organization.

Applicants should have post-secondary education in business or related field and proven experience in category

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in business, supply chain, procurement, merchandising, finance, or a related field; an equivalent combination will be considered.
• Progressive experience in category management, merchandising, purchasing, procurement, or supply chain.
• Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, and developing a team.
• Strong supplier management and negotiation experience, with a track record of delivering commercial value.
• Strong financial and analytical capability, including experience interpreting sales, margin, pricing, inventory, and market data.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and enterprise resource planning, purchasing, reporting, or business intelligence systems. Experience using NAV or Business Central is an asset.
• Experience in a seasonal, retail, wholesale, distribution, or product-based environment is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies, annual plans, and priorities aligned with growth, customer, margin, and inventory objectives.

Skills

Supplier management

Negotiation

Financial analysis

Analytical thinking

Education

Post-secondary education in business or related field

Tools

Microsoft NAV

Business Central

ERP / BI systems

Job description

• Location 4346 HWY 90,SPRINGWATER, ON, L9X 1T7,Canada
• Base Pay $62,400.00 - $92,560.00 / Year
• Employee Type Temporary/Contract

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy and Performance

Develop and implement category strategies, annual plans, and priorities aligned with the organization's growth, customer, margin, and inventory objectives .

Own category performance, including sales, gross margin, inventory turns , service levels, assortment productivity, and supplier performance.

Evaluate market trends, customer needs, competitive activity, seasonality, and product performance to identify opportunities and risks.

Lead assortment reviews and make recommendations regarding product introductions, deletions, substitutions, pricing, and promotional activity.

Establish clear category targets, monitor results, and implement corrective actions when performance is below plan.

Lead, coach, and develop Category Specialists, setting clear priorities, performance expectations, and accountabilities .

Allocate work effectively across the team and ensure consistent, accurate , and timely execution of category activities.

Build team capability in commercial analysis, supplier management, forecasting, negotiation, and category planning.

Foster a collaborative, accountable, and continuous-improvement culture.

Support recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and succession planning for the category team.

Supplier and Procurement Management

Build strategic supplier relationships and lead negotiations related to cost, terms, service, quality, availability, and program support.

Partner with the Director, Supply Chain and Logistics to support sourcing strategies, supplier selection , contracting, and risk management.

Conduct regular supplier performance reviews and address gaps in service, quality, cost, or compliance.

Identify opportunities for cost reduction, value creation, supply continuity, and process improvement.

Planning, Inventory, and Analysis

Collaborate with planning and operations teams to align forecasts, purchases, inventory levels, and replenishment with expected demand.

Monitor inventory health and take action to reduce shortages, excess inventory, aged stock, and obsolescence.

Use data and reporting tools to assess performance, develop forecasts, support business cases, and guide decisions.

Maintain accurate category information, assumptions, pricing inputs, and supporting documentation.

Balance customer requirements, working capital, availability, cost, and operational constraints when making category decisions.

Cross-Functional Leadership

Partner with sales, operations, marketing, finance, and supply chain teams to execute category plans and resolve business issues.

Provide clear category direction, recommendations, and updates to leaders and key stakeholders.

Coordinate product launches, seasonal programs, promotions, transitions, and other category initiatives.

Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, strategic planning, and continuous-improvement initiatives.

Ensure category decisions are communicated clearly and implemented consistently across the organization.

Qualifications and Experience

Post-secondary education in business, supply chain, procurement, merchandising, finance, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Progressive experience in category management, merchandising, purchasing, procurement, or supply chain, including responsibility for category performance.

Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, and developing a team.

Strong supplier management and negotiation experience, with a track record of delivering commercial value.

Strong financial and analytical capability, including experience interpreting sales, margin, pricing, inventory, and market data.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and enterprise resource planning, purchasing , reporting, or business intelligence systems . Experience using Microsoft NAV or Business Central an asset .

Experience in a seasonal, retail, wholesale, distribution, or product-based environment is an asset.