Category Manager

BBG Ventures, LLC; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 208,000; Full time

Job summary

BBG Ventures, LLC in Sunnyvale seeks a Category Manager to own end-to-end growth, strategy, and P&L for assigned categories such as MRO, Construction, or F&B Supplies. You will bridge global supply with North American buyers, drive selection expansion, pricing, and buyer engagement.

You will partner with Marketing to define buyer cohorts, optimize the catalog and search-to-purchase flow, and lead category events to boost retention and growth.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, or Merchandising experience.
• Industry knowledge in Industrial Machinery, Building Materials, Commercial Kitchen Equipment, or Packaging Supplies.
• Strong analytical skills with SQL and Excel; ability to pivot between strategy and data analysis.
• Excellent negotiation and cross-functional collaboration with Product, Tech, Sales, and Legal.
• Bachelor's degree; MBA is a strong plus; AI tools user and AI skills owner.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a 12–24 month roadmap for the category and identify market trends and opportunities.
• Identify, onboard, and manage manufacturers and wholesalers; ensure selection meets professional buyer standards.
• Own GMV, Take Rate, Selection Depth, and Active Seller/Buyer growth.
• Define buyer cohorts with Marketing and tailor the category experience to buyers’ needs.
• Collaborate with Product to improve search-to-inquiry/purchase flows and ensure proper catalog structure.
• Design and lead category-specific events and campaigns to drive retention and reactivation.

Skills

SQL

Excel

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Communication

AI tools user

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA (strong plus)

Job description

Role Overview

• As a Category Manager, you will be the \"CEO\" of your assigned business categories. You are responsible for the end-to-end growth, strategic direction, and P&L performance of specific vertical markets (e.g., MRO, Construction, or F&B Supplies). You will bridge the gap between global supply capabilities and North American buyer demands, driving selection expansion, pricing strategy, and buyer engagement.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategic Category Planning: Develop and execute a 12-24 month roadmap for the category. Identify market trends, white-space opportunities, and competitive threats within the B2B landscape.


• Selection & Supply Management: Identify, onboard, and manage high-quality manufacturers and wholesalers. Ensure the selection meets the rigorous standards of professional buyers (e.g., certifications, bulk availability, customization capabilities).


• P&L & Performance Ownership: Own key business metrics including GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume), Take Rate, Selection Depth, and Active Seller/Buyer growth.


• Buyer Persona Insights: Work closely with Marketing to define buyer cohorts (e.g., General Contractors, Restaurant Owners, Facility Managers). Tailor the category experience to solve their specific procurement pain points.


• Product & Catalog Optimization: Partner with Product teams to improve the \"Search-to-Inquiry\" or \"Search-to-Purchase\" flow. Ensure technical specifications, bulk pricing tiers, and shipping attributes are structured for a seamless B2B buying experience.


• Promotional Strategy: Design and lead category-specific events, trade shows (digital/physical), and seasonal campaigns to drive buyer retention and reactivate dormant accounts.

Job Requirements

• Experience: 5+ years of experience in Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, or Merchandising. Experience in a B2B E-commerce marketplace is highly preferred.


• Industry Expertise: Deep knowledge of at least one of the following sectors: Industrial Machinery, Building Materials, Commercial Kitchen Equipment, or Packaging Supplies.


• Analytical Rigor: Proficiency in SQL and Excel. Ability to pivot between high-level strategy and granular data analysis (e.g., cohort retention, SKU-level elasticity).


• Communication: Exceptional negotiation skills and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders (Product, Tech, Sales, and Legal).


• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; MBA from a top-tier university is a strong plus.


• AI tools user and AI skills owner.

• The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $126,000/year and $207,600/year. However, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.


• If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.