Category Business Manager - Commodity & Building Materials

Central Valley; Napa (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Valley, a diversified Top 100 U.S. building supply company serving Northern California, seeks a senior Category Manager. You will own category strategy for lumber and building materials, lead sourcing and negotiations, and drive margin, inventory, and vendor partnerships.

You will coach direct reports and align cross-functionally with marketing and store operations. The role emphasizes analytics, leadership, and market knowledge in a family-owned firm with strong community ties and a

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years in purchasing, merchandising, category management or supply chain.
• University degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• Experience managing or developing direct reports.
• Strong negotiation and business acumen.
• Ability to analyze data and set strategic category direction.

Responsibilities

• Directly manage, coach, and develop direct reports with clear goals.
• Own category strategy, sourcing, replenishment, and pricing decisions.
• Lead supplier negotiations and drive total lower cost with vendor support.
• Develop category plans, assortment, and performance criteria.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, sales, and operations.
• Ensure inventory rotation and manage non-performing stock.

Skills

Category management

Merchandising

Pricing

Sourcing

Communication

Leadership

Analytical

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Education

University degree preferred

Tools

ERP/inventory systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Company Description

Central Valley is a diversified Top 100 U.S. building supply company serving builders and vineyard operators across Northern California. Family owned and operated for three generations; the company emphasizes customer service, long-term relationships, and community impact. Central Valley provides a full range of building materials and services for developers, builders, and framers, as well as specialized products for vineyard operators, orchard growers, and landscape architects. Since its founding in 1955, the company has grown to operate multiple lumber yards, warehouses, extensive inventory, and a sizable delivery fleet across the greater Bay Area. Central Valley has been recognized as a “Best Places to Work” winner by the North Bay Business Journal, reflecting its commitment to a positive workplace culture.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Directly manage, coach, and develop direct reports, setting clear goals and holding the team accountable for results.
• Provide day-to-day guidance on category strategy, sourcing, and replenishment decisions, elevating the team’s analytical and negotiation capabilities.
• Support the ongoing development of direct reports and foster an engaged, people-focused culture

Category Management

• Strong knowledge and understanding of the softwood lumber and commodity building-materials markets, anticipating and communicating significant market changes that influence availability and pricing.
• Assume full ownership of, and accountability for, assigned commodity lumber, building materials, and fastener categories.
• Deliver financial metrics of agreed upon annual plan.
• Be the subject-matter expert for the assigned category within Central Valley, establishing category role, strategic objectives and tactics for achievement of category sales and net margin.
• Continually update understanding of customer requirements, product trends, vendor dynamics, market conditions and the competitive environment for each category.
• Develop and implement category plans including product assortment, performance criteria (sales revenue, gross margin, return on inventory), and pricing strategy relative to competition. Identify new product directions, areas for expansion, and rationalization.
• Ensure inventory rotation, and rotation of non-performing inventory.
• Direct and oversee all product knowledge training for store associates (executed with the team). Monitor category performance versus budget and implement plans to address variances.
• Elevate relationships with vendors to partnership status, not just transactional.
• Plan, execute and deliver the line review process against agreed timelines.
• Lead supplier sourcing and negotiations to ensure total lower cost, incorporating vendor support revenues, preferred arrangements, service levels, and product quality.
• Maintain relationships with all vendors and potential vendors to enhance opportunistic and spot-buy opportunities.

Marketing

• Support the Director by contributing category-specific input and supporting execution for the assigned categories.
• Support Sales associates with relevant marketing collateral and market intelligence to serve target customers.
• Support category and merchandising excitement through in-store events, trade shows, promotions, and vendor product demonstrations

Additional Responsibilities

• Build consensus and partner cross-functionally to develop and execute strategy and achieve established goals.
• Attend industry and buying shows as applicable.
• Maintain knowledge of Central Valley warehouse/store executional requirements and nuances.
• Regularly inspect all Standard Operating Procedures for accuracy and efficiency and enforce compliance among direct reports.
• Other tasks and responsibilities as determined by their manager.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience with category management, merchandising, pricing, and sourcing.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in ERP/inventory systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership abilities.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in the lumber / building materials (LBM), millwork, or construction-products industry strongly preferred.
• University degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5–8+ years in purchasing, merchandising, category management, or supply chain, including experience managing or developing direct reports.
• Experience in negotiations and strong business acumen.
• Ability to calculate discounts, proportions, percentages, area, and volume, and must know dimensional lumber units of measure.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Walking: Occasionally (up to 3 hours per day)
• Standing: Occasionally (up to 3 hours per day)
• Sitting: Frequently (3-6 hours per day)
• Bending/Twisting: Occasionally (up to 3 hours per day)
• Squatting/Stooping: Occasionally (up to 3 hours per day)
• Climbing: Occasionally (up to 3 hours per day)
• Pushing/Pulling: Occasionally (up to 3 hours per day)
• Lifting 0-25 lbs.: Occasionally
• Lifting 26-50 lbs.: Occasionally
• Carrying 0-25 lbs.: Occasionally
• Carrying 26-50 lbs.: Occasionally
• Ability to travel to stores, vendor meetings, and industry events as required.

Central Valley is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.