Category Planning Manager

Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd.; Mississauga; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health and dental benefi

Annual bonus

Pension matching

Disability insurance

Professional education allowance

Mentorship programs

Flexible schedules

Paid time off

Job summary

Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd. seeks a Category Planning Manager to support the planning and forecasting across front‑store categories.

You will translate market data and financial goals into actionable strategies and act as a liaison between Category Management and Finance to ensure innovative, data‑driven, and financially sound initiatives. Responsibilities include driving annual and seasonal planning, developing business cases, and leading cross‑department collaborations to optimize assortment,

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years in category management, planning, or business development, preferably in drug, grocery, or mass channels.
• Expert‑level proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis and modeling.
• Strong experience with retail financial metrics, budgeting processes, and P&L management.
• Ability to translate complex data and market insights into actionable category strategies.
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem‑solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive annual and seasonal category planning with multi‑year roadmaps aligned to corporate objectives.
• Lead category review processes and post‑mortems, ensuring budgets are met.
• Develop business cases and models for assortment optimization, promotions, launches, and pricing actions.
• Analyze market trends and competitor activity to identify growth opportunities.
• Plan trade spend and vendor funding to maximize return on category goals.
• Collaborate with Finance, Supply Chain, Operations, and Marketing to operationalize plans.

Skills

Excel

Power BI

Forecasting

Budgeting

P&L management

Data analysis

Stakeholder influence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Economics

Tools

ERP systems

Data visualization tools

Job description

Category Planning Manager

Report to the Director, Merchandising, Planning & Analysis. Support the Category Management team in coordinating the planning and forecasting across front‑store categories. Translate market data, consumer insights, and financial goals into actionable strategies that drive sustainable growth. Act as liaison between Category Management and Finance to ensure initiatives are innovative, data‑driven, and financially sound.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive annual and seasonal category planning, creating multi‑year roadmaps aligned with corporate objectives.
• Lead category review processes and post‑mortems with category managers, ensuring budgets are met.
• Develop business cases and models to evaluate category relines, assortment optimization, promotional strategies, new product launches, and pricing actions.
• Analyze market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive activity to identify growth opportunities.
• Plan trade spend and vendor funding, ensuring investments align with category goals and deliver maximum return.
• Create and refine methodologies for evaluating product and POG performance.
• Establish business forecasts with merchandising, pricing, promotions, supply chain, and marketing teams.
• Support data‑driven decision‑making, forecast meetings, and cross‑department insights.
• Lead development of advanced forecasting models and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including sales, market share, gross margin, and inventory productivity.
• Build compelling narratives and business cases for major line reviews and vendor negotiations.
• Provide post‑promotional analysis to improve future campaigns.
• Partner with Finance to ensure category plans are financially robust.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Operations, and Marketing to integrate plans operationally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Economics, or a related field.
• 3–5+ years of progressive experience in category management, category planning, or business development, preferably within drug, grocery, or mass channels.
• Deep understanding of category management principles (assortment, pricing, promotion, shelf management).
• Strong experience with retail financial metrics, budgeting processes, and P&L management.
• Proven experience influencing corporate Finance teams.
• Expert‑level proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis and modeling.
• Strong familiarity with syndicated market data.
• Proficiency with data visualization tools such as Power BI.
• Experience with financial planning software and ERP systems (asset).
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to translate complex data and market insights into actionable category strategies.
• Business acumen linking category plans to financial outcomes.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis to generate actionable insights.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and dental benefits.
• Annual bonus, pension matching, and disability insurance.
• Professional education allowance and mentorship programs.
• Flexible schedules and paid time off.

Rexall Pharmacy Group is committed to providing an accessible environment for all of our customers, employees, and job applicants. Rexall Pharmacy Group will make available to any selected applicants’ accommodations and/or accessible formats should they require. Candidates are encouraged to discuss any accommodation they may need in order to allow for the most effective selection process.