Category Manager

Vallen Distribution, Inc; Belmont (NC); On-site; USD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance (SB

401K with discretionary company match

Employer-paid Basic Life Insurance

Disability Benefits (Short/Long Term)

Job summary

Vallen Distribution, Inc is seeking a Category Manager to drive category strategies across assigned product categories, partnering with Sales, IT, Sourcing, and Supply Chain to optimize assortment, pricing, and supplier performance in line with enterprise objectives.

Responsibilities include assortment management, category planning, supplier management, analytics, cross-functional collaboration, and market insights to support new product introductions and lifecycle management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Marketing, or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in category management, sourcing, merchandising, or product management, preferably within industrial distribution or B2B environments
• Solid analytical and financial skills with experience evaluating sales, margin, and inventory performance
• Ability to execute category plans and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Understanding of market dynamics, customer needs, and competitive positioning
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively across functions
• Effective communication and supplier relationship management skills
• Experience working with ERP systems and data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Tableau)

Responsibilities

• Assortment management based on customer demand, sales performance, and supplier capabilities with a strong focus on customer needs.
• Support the development and execution of category plans, including assortment changes, supplier negotiations and value positioning.
• Manage supplier relationships, including performance reviews, cost initiatives, and ongoing collaboration to support category strategies.
• Analyze sales, margin, and inventory data to monitor category performance, identify trends, and support data-driven decisions.
• Work with Sales, Sourcing, Marketing, and Operations to execute category initiatives and ensure alignment with business goals.
• Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and product opportunities; support new product introductions and lifecycle management.
• Support category-level margin, inventory, and working capital objectives through pricing actions, cost initiatives, and supplier programs.

Skills

Category management

Sourcing

Merchandising

Product management

Analytical skills

ERP systems

Excel

Power BI

Tableau

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Marketing, or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

The Category Manager is responsible for managing and executing category strategies across assigned product categories to support profitable growth, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. This role partners closely with Sales, Integrated Site Leadership, IT, Sourcing, and Supply Chain to optimize assortment, pricing, and supplier performance while ensuring category plans align with customer needs and enterprise objectives.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Assortment Management: Manage core and extended product assortments based on customer demand, sales performance, and supplier capabilities with a strong focus on customer needs.
• Category Planning & Execution: Support the development and execution of category plans, including assortment changes, supplier negotiations and value positioning.
• Supplier Management: Manage supplier relationships, including performance reviews, cost initiatives, and ongoing collaboration to support category strategies.
• Analytics & Reporting: Analyze sales, margin, and inventory data to monitor category performance, identify trends, and support data-driven decisions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with Sales, Sourcing, Marketing, and Operations to execute category initiatives and ensure alignment with business goals.
• Market & Product Insights: Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and product opportunities; support new product introductions and lifecycle management.
• Financial Performance Support: Support category-level margin, inventory, and working capital objectives through pricing actions, cost initiatives, and supplier programs.

Requirements

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Marketing, or related field
• 3–5 years of experience in category management, sourcing, merchandising, or product management, preferably within industrial distribution or B2B environments
• Solid analytical and financial skills with experience evaluating sales, margin, and inventory performance
• Ability to execute category plans and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Understanding of market dynamics, customer needs, and competitive positioning
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively across functions
• Effective communication and supplier relationship management skills
• Experience working with ERP systems and data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Tableau)

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodations will be evaluated and may be implemented to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this position.

• The work environment may not be temperature controlled; must have the ability to work in extreme hot or cold environments; must be able to work in dusty environments.
• Long periods working on a computer and performing repetitive keyboarding activities.
• Extended day, evening, and weekend work may be required as job duties demand and may include little to no advanced notice.
• May be required to handle hazardous materials and wear various forms of protective equipment (shoes, gloves, protective eyewear, etc.).
• May be required to drive a forklift and/or operate other standard warehouse equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• May be required to pass forklift and/or other warehouse equipment certifications (written and/or driving).
• Must be able to handle and work physical inventory; required to lift up to 25 lbs or greater with assistance following standard operating and safety procedures. Other physical requirements including, regularly being required to stand, walk, kneel, bend, crouch, crawl, climb, and balance.
• Close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus are required.

Travel Requirements

Up to 25%

Bonus Eligibility

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance for Single, Employee + Spouse or Children & Family Coverage
• 401K with discretionary company match of $.50 on the $1.00 up to 6% of pay - (US positions only)
• Employer-paid Basic Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Dependents
• Employer-paid Short Term & Long Term Disability Benefits and Parental Leave (and any leave required under federal, state and local laws)
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Time Off (Vacation & Sick Days) - 80-160 hours of vacation time based on seniority, accrued each month and pro-rated from date of hire. 40-56 hours of sick time per year based on seniority and advanced upon hire.
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Resource Groups for networking and team building
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Referral Program
• Safety Shoe and Safety Glasses reimbursement (based on position)
• Employee Discounts through BenefitHub

Vallen complies with all minimum wage laws We accept applications on an ongoing basis.