Category Manager

W. W. Grainger; Green Bay (WI); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Imperial Supplies, a Grainger Company, is seeking a Category Manager to lead assigned product categories, driving revenue growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction. You will own the P&L, develop category strategies, manage lifecycles, and partner across Sales, Marketing, Sourcing, Inventory Management, and Distribution.

You will combine analytics, strategy, and cross-functional leadership to deliver measurable impact in a fast-paced environment with a hybrid schedule including two

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of Product Management, Category Management, Product Marketing, or related experience.
• Strong analytical, project management, and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Own the financial performance (P&L) of assigned product categories, driving revenue growth and margin improvement.
• Develop and execute category strategies, including assortment planning, private label initiatives, and product positioning.
• Lead product lifecycle management from new product introductions to growth optimization and product discontinuation decisions.
• Analyze customer needs, market trends, competitive offerings, and pricing to identify opportunities and inform category strategy.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Sourcing, Product Acquisition, Inventory Management, and Distribution teams to execute category initiatives and business plans.
• Manage stocked and drop-ship assortments to ensure a competitive, customer-focused product offering.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to optimize product quality, innovation, cost competitiveness, and supply reliability.
• Support supplier selection, onboarding, and performance management activities.
• Develop and enhance customer-focused product programs that address evolving market needs.
• Drive new product launches and program introductions with clear revenue and profitability objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reporting, and overall category performance.

Skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Verbal and written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Imperial Supplies, a Grainger Company, is a national distributor of quality maintenance products. Serving the fleet maintenance industry since 1958, Imperial has formed lasting relationships with customers by tailoring our services to meet their changing needs.

Our welcoming workplace enables you to learn, grow and make a difference by keeping businesses running and their people safe. As a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company, we’re looking for passionate people to join our team as we continue leading the industry.

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for product management, category growth, and business performance? We're looking for aCategory Manager to lead the success of assigned product categories, driving revenue growth, profitability, customer satisfaction, and innovation.

In this role, you'll act as the business owner for your categories, developing and executing category strategies, managing product lifecycles, partnering with suppliers, and collaborating across Sales, Marketing, Procurement, Inventory Management, and Distribution. If you enjoy combining analytics, strategy, and cross-functional leadership to make a measurable impact, we'd like to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Own the financial performance (P&L) of assigned product categories, driving revenue growth and margin improvement.
• Develop and execute category strategies, including assortment planning, private label initiatives, and product positioning.
• Lead product lifecycle management from new product introductions to growth optimization and product discontinuation decisions.
• Analyze customer needs, market trends, competitive offerings, and pricing to identify opportunities and inform category strategy.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Sourcing, Product Acquisition, Inventory Management, and Distribution teams to execute category initiatives and business plans.
• Manage stocked and drop-ship assortments to ensure a competitive, customer-focused product offering.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to optimize product quality, innovation, cost competitiveness, and supply reliability.
• Support supplier selection, onboarding, and performance management activities.
• Develop and enhance customer-focused product programs that address evolving market needs.
• Drive new product launches and program introductions with clear revenue and profitability objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reporting, and overall category performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of Product Management, Category Management, Product Marketing, or related experience.
• Strong analytical, project management, and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Why Join Us?

• Hybrid / Remote schedule with an expectation of two days per week in office
• Work/Life balance
• Immediate medical, dental, vision; 18 days paid vacation,7paid holidays and 6% of annual earnings contributed to your retirement,immediately vested!

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.