Associate Category Strategist AV

ADI Global Distribution; Dallas (TX); Hybrid; USD 93,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life and health insurance

401k Plan

Vacation & holidays

Job summary

ADI Global Distribution is seeking an Associate Category Strategist to support Category Managers in the AV category, owning tactical day-to-day activities and independently managing supplier portfolios to meet revenue and margin targets.

You will develop commercial plans, lead supplier relationships, and drive cross-functional execution with Operations, Purchasing, Marketing, and Sales. This hybrid US-based role includes travel ~5-10% to supplier meetings and industry events.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in supplier management, category management, commercial operations, or an analytical role in a B2B distribution environment.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to successfully handle multiple projects at the same time.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or executing commercial strategies for a supplier or product portfolio.
• Experience coordinating cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and/or Purchasing.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable commercial recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Own the tactical, day-to-day functions of the category and coordinate supplier onboarding logistics.
• Handle ad-hoc data pulls, competitive analysis, and forecast inputs with Category Analyst.
• Coordinate with Operations and Purchasing on inventory, IOS discipline, and stocking questions.
• Serve as a Level-2 commercial escalation point for pricing, programs, and processes.
• Prepare briefing materials, market summaries, and supplier performance snapshots for Category Manager review.

Skills

Supplier management

Category management

Commercial operations

Analytics

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Excel

BI dashboards

CRM tools

Job description

Job Description

The Associate Category Strategist supports the Category Managers in the AV category by owning the tactical, day-to-day commercial activities that keep the supplier portfolio running. In addition to this support function, the Associate Strategist independently manages a portfolio of suppliers, including developing and executing commercial plans, owning supplier relationships, and delivering against revenue and margin targets.

By combining hands-on tactical execution with independent portfolio ownership, the Associate Strategist builds the commercial judgment, supplier relationship skills, and cross-functional fluency required to manage a larger, more strategic supplier portfolio.

Job Duties

Tactical Support to Category Managers

• Own the tactical, day-to-day functions of the category.
• Coordinate supplier onboarding logistics for new vendors being brought into the category.
• Handle ad-hoc data pulls, competitive analysis, and forecast inputs in partnership with the Category Analyst.
• Coordinate with Operations and Purchasing on inventory issues, IOS (Inactive, Obsolete, Surplus) discipline, and stocking questions on behalf of the Category Manager.
• Serve as a Level-2 commercial escalation point for the Category Manager’s broader portfolio, fielding pricing, program, and process questions from the Sales team, Market Development Specialists, and the Category Analyst.
• Prepare briefing materials, market summaries, and supplier performance snapshots for Category Manager review.

Own Supplier Portfolio

• Serve as the day-to-day commercial owner of an assigned portfolio of suppliers.
• Develop and execute a strategic plan for each assigned supplier.
• Set pricing strategy for the assigned portfolio in partnership with Purchasing.
• Lead quarterly business reviews (QBRs) and maintain working-level supplier relationships independently.
• Own Annual Operating Plan (AOP) targets for the assigned portfolio including revenue, margin, and growth.
• Handle Level-2 and Level-3 escalations for the owned supplier portfolio.
• Manage IOS discipline and working-capital targets for assigned suppliers.
• Evaluate emerging or niche suppliers and provide recommendations to the Category Manager on portfolio additions.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with Operations, Purchasing, Marketing, and Sales to drive execution on both the Category Manager's portfolio and the owned supplier portfolio.
• Coordinate with the Category Analyst to ensure data accuracy and reporting coverage for the owned portfolio.

Reporting & Analysis

• Produce monthly performance reports for the owned supplier portfolio including revenue, margin, mix, and growth vs. AOP.
• Support the Category Manager with portfolio-level reporting, trend analysis, and QBR content for their broader supplier portfolio.
• Conduct competitive analysis and market research to inform commercial decisions.

YOU MUST HAVE

• 3-5 years of experience in supplier management, category management, commercial operations, or an analytical role in a B2B distribution environment.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to successfully handle multiple projects at the same time.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or executing commercial strategies for a supplier or product portfolio.
• Experience coordinating cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and/or Purchasing.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable commercial recommendations.
• Proficient with Excel, BI dashboards, and CRM tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication, comfortable on supplier calls, internal stand-ups, and cross-functional meetings.
• Ability to travel (:5-10%) for supplier meetings, QBRs, and select industry events.

WE VALUE

• Experience in AV, low-voltage, security, or related B2B distribution categories.
• Hands-on experience with supplier QBR preparation, pricing administration, or program management.
• Exposure to joint business planning, rebate negotiation, or contract administration.
• Strong financial acumen including familiarity with margin, mix, forecasting, and working capital concepts.
• Process-oriented mindset.
• Comfort with AI-assisted reporting and analytical tools.
• Curiosity about the AV category and a desire to grow into a full Category Strategist role.
• Project management skills and the ability to juggle multiple supplier initiatives concurrently.

About Us

ADI is a leading global distributor and solutions provider of security, AV, and smart living technologies, helping professionals deliver smarter, safer, and more connected experiences for homes and businesses around the world. Through trusted brands, exclusive solutions, and strong industry partnerships, ADI supports more than 110,000 customers across residential and commercial markets globally. From security and video surveillance to networking, audio, automation, fire, and connected technologies, ADI offers a broad portfolio of products, services, and software designed to support the evolving needs of integrators, installers, and technology professionals. With a global team spanning operations, sales, supply chain, digital, customer experience, engineering, and more, ADI combines deep industry expertise with innovation and service to help customers grow and succeed in an evolving industry. At ADI, our teams help create the technologies, partnerships, and experiences that keep people connected, protected, and supported every day.

You can find out more about how the talent community works here: ADI Talent Community Terms . Our recruitment privacy notice ADI - Recruitment Privacy Notice describes in more detail how we process your personal data and how you can exercise your personal data rights.

Job Info

Job Identification : 19062

Job Category : Product Marketing

Posting Date : 2026-08-06T13:27:31+00:00

Degree Level : No Formal Education

Job Schedule : Full time

Locations : 750 W John Carpenter Freeway, Irving, 75039, US; 275 Broadhollow Road Suite 400 , Melville, 11747, US (Hybrid)

Incentive Eligible : N/A

Business : ADI Global Distribution

Hiring Salary Range : The typical hiring salary for this role, ranges from USD $92570.0 to $157630.0 per year but varies by specific work location. For example, the hiring salary for this role in Melville, NY is $111084.0 to $189156.0 per year and New York City, NY is $115712.5 to $197037.5 . Within a range, our company determines base pay for an individual based on various factors, including market conditions, skills, and experience.

• Benefits : We provide comprehensive benefits, including life and health insurance, life assistance program, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, disability insurance, 401k Plan, vacation & holidays.

US Visa Sponsorship Eligibility : This position is not eligible for US visa sponsorship