Book Category Manager: Strategy, Analysis & Growth

ReaderLink; Oak Brook (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plans

401(k) with Company Match

Vacation Pay

Paid Holidays

Publisher-sponsored Book Club

Author Events

Job summary

ReaderLink, based in Oak Brook, IL, seeks a Product Manager to drive category strategy and title selection for adult book categories in library and specialty channels. You will partner with Sales, Merchandising, and Operations to optimize assortments and retailer alignment.

This role requires 4+ years in product management, strength with Microsoft Power BI, and experience in the Book category. Join a fast-paced team focused on data-driven decisions and category growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing or a related field is required.
• Minimum four (4) plus years of experience in product management preferred.
• Minimum four (4) years of experience with Microsoft Power BI preferred.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience in the Book category and knowledge of the Library market is preferred.
• Previous buying or selling experience is preferred.
• Experience with Blue Yonder software (JDA), including Space Planning, is preferred.
• Strong to advanced experience in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook is required.
• Advanced skills in the Microsoft Office suite are highly valued, specifically Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables and V‑lookup functions, are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own assigned book categories, developing and executing category strategies that support business objectives and customer goals.
• Conduct regular category and title level reviews to evaluate performance and adjust assortments, pricing, and distribution.
• Develop category plans with market trends, seasonal calendars, and customer strategies.
• Participate in publisher product presentations and prepare summary reports to support discussions.
• Review and select titles for category assortments, balancing editorial quality with commercial performance.
• Create program specific title pools using Space Planning and forecasting insights to determine optimal titles.
• Manage lifecycle planning for titles including new releases, reorders, markdowns, and exits.
• Collaborate with Space Planning to ensure planograms and seasonal sets are accurate.

Job description

ReaderLink, based in Oak Brook, IL, seeks a Product Manager to drive category strategy and title selection for adult book categories in library and specialty channels. You will partner with Sales, Merchandising, and Operations to optimize assortments and retailer alignment.

This role requires 4+ years in product management, strength with Microsoft Power BI, and experience in the Book category. Join a fast-paced team focused on data-driven decisions and category growth.