Associate Category Manager

Rockler; Medina (MN); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Rockler in Medina, MN is seeking an Associate Category Manager to support Sr. Merchants. You will help drive the financial performance of assigned departments and categories, manage product life cycles, and develop merchandising concepts to grow category share.

You will collaborate across merchandising, marketing, and distribution teams, negotiate with vendors, and mentor with leadership. Woodworking and home improvement background is a plus; hybrid in-office presence is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 1+ years’ experience in category management, merchandising, or buying.
• Proficient with MS Office.
• Strong written and verbal communication, negotiating and vendor management skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of product life cycle in selected product categories.
• Develop merchandising concepts and promotional plans to drive category growth and optimize assortment.
• Mentor with Merchandising leadership to develop in-category expertise.
• Determine standard and promotional pricing through competitive analysis and industry research.
• Evaluate industry and competitive trends; identify new opportunities.
• Negotiate with vendors to secure favorable terms and conditions.
• Collaborate with buyers, merchandisers, marketing, and distribution to ensure efficient supply chain and accurate product representation.
• Stay ahead of competition as industry and customer expert and maintain optimal product assortment.
• Monitor and report on key metrics.

Skills

MS Office

Communication

Negotiation

Vendor management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Associate Category Manager - Medina, MN

Woodworking and Hardware

Summary of Position

The Associate Category Manager, in support of a Sr. Merchant, is responsible for delivering the financial performance of their assigned departments and limited product categories. The Associate Category Manager role is designed as the first step in category ownership. This role is intended to prepare the associate for a more advanced role in Category Management.

major areas of accountability

• Manage all aspects of the product life cycle in selected product categories.
• Develop merchandising concepts, product and promotional plans that strategically drive category growth while continually evaluating product assortment to ensure customer satisfaction, increase market penetration and competitive advantage.
• Demonstrate progressive understanding of category management concepts, processes, and procedures through mentoring with Merchandising leadership.
• Determine standard and promotional product pricing through competitive analysis, industry research, store visits and product pricing strategies.
• Evaluate industry and competitive trends; define and act on new opportunities.
• Assist in the negotiations with vendors to assure we secure the lowest price and most favorable terms utilizing incentives like but not limited to payment terms, rebates, co-op, allowance, returns and freight discounts.
• Collaborate with buyers, merchandisers, marketing, creative team and distribution team to ensure the supply chain is managed efficiently and product is accurately represented in all channels and effectively distributed to our customer.
• Serve as an industry and customer expert to ensure we stay ahead of our competition and present our customers with the best assortment of products in the marketplace.
• Monitor and report on key metrics
• Miscellaneous additional duties as assigned.
• We offer a flexible work environment with a strong bias to in office collaboration and attendance.

requirements for position

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• 1+ years’ experience in category management, merchandising, or buying, preferably in a direct marketing and retail environment.
• Proficient with MS Office
• Strong written and verbal communication, negotiating and vendor management skills.

• Strong organizational, planning, problem-solving, and analytical skills
• Ability to effectively prioritize multiple tasks and responsibilities.
• Must be detail orientated and self-driven to maintain high productivity.
• Excellent follow up and follow through capabilities
• Woodworking experience/background preferred.
• Local Applicants only - Hybrid Role - 3 days in office per week Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and as required otherwise and typically remote Thursday and Friday