Category Manager

Sedano’s; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Sedano’s is seeking a Category Manager to own end-to-end category strategies for assigned grocery lines. You will drive profitable growth through data-driven insights, strong vendor partnerships, and shopper behavior understanding, serving as the business owner for your categories.

Responsibilities include developing multi-year business plans, optimizing assortment, negotiating terms, managing planograms, and delivering category KPIs such as sales and margin.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in category management, merchandising, or buying within grocery retail or CPG.
• Proficiency with syndicated data platforms (Nielsen / Circana / IRI) and POS analytics tools.
• Proven track record of delivering category sales and margin growth in a retail or wholesale environment.
• Strong negotiation skills with experience managing supplier relationships and trade funding.
• Proficiency in Excel and/or category management software (e.g., JDA, Blue Yonder, Apollo).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to influence at all levels of the organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own multi-year category business plans aligned with overall merchandising strategy and financial objectives.
• Define category roles, segmentation, and performance targets in partnership with senior leadership.
• Conduct regular category reviews and present findings and recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Optimize SKU assortment to drive sales, margin, and shopper satisfaction using data.
• Manage planogram development and space allocation with Space Planning teams.
• Lead new item evaluations, line reviews, and seasonal reset planning.
• Negotiate pricing, trade terms, promotional programs, and annual vendor agreements.
• Serve as primary point of contact for vendor partners; conduct joint business planning sessions.
• Track and report category KPIs including sales, gross margin, inventory turns, and market share.

Skills

Category management

Data-driven insights

Vendor partnerships

Negotiation

Analytics

POS analytics

Excel

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Nielsen

Circana

IRI

JDA

Blue Yonder

Apollo

Job description

The Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing end-to-end category strategies across assigned grocery product lines. This role serves as the key business owner for their categories, driving profitable growth through data-driven insights, strong vendor partnerships, and a deep understanding of shopper behavior. The ideal candidate brings proven grocery retail or CPG experience and excels at translating market intelligence into actionable, results-oriented plans.

Category Strategy & Planning

• Develop and own multi-year category business plans aligned with overall merchandising strategy and financial objectives


• Define category roles, segmentation, and performance targets in partnership with senior leadership


• Conduct regular category reviews and present findings and recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders

Assortment & Space Management

• Optimize SKU assortment to drive sales, margin, and shopper satisfaction using Nielsen, IRI, or Circana data


• Manage planogram development and space allocation in collaboration with Space Planning teams


• Lead new item evaluations, line reviews, and seasonal reset planning

Vendor & Supplier Management

• Negotiate pricing, trade terms, promotional programs, and annual vendor agreements


• Serve as primary point of contact for vendor partners; conduct joint business planning (JBP) sessions


• Manage vendor performance scorecards and hold partners accountable to agreed commitments

Pricing & Promotions

• Set and maintain everyday pricing strategies that balance competitiveness with margin goals


• Build and manage promotional calendars, evaluating ROI and optimizing trade spend effectiveness


• Partner with Marketing to develop compelling shopper-facing promotions and in-store activations

Analytics & Insights

• Analyze POS, loyalty, and syndicated data to identify category trends, gaps, and opportunities


• Monitor competitive landscape, pricing, and assortment shifts; translate findings into actionable strategies


• Track and report category KPIs including sales, gross margin, inventory turns, and market share

Required

• 5+ years of experience in category management, merchandising, or buying within grocery retail or CPG


• Demonstrated proficiency with syndicated data platforms (Nielsen / Circana / IRI) and POS analytics tools


• Proven track record of delivering category sales and margin growth in a retail or wholesale environment


• Strong negotiation skills with experience managing supplier relationships and trade funding


• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and/or category management software (e.g., JDA, Blue Yonder, Apollo)


• Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to influence at all levels of the organization


• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a related field

Preferred

• Experience with private label / own-brand development within a grocery category


• Familiarity with loyalty and shopper marketing programs (e.g., 84.51°, Dunnhumby)


• Knowledge of CPFR (Collaborative Planning, Forecasting & Replenishment) practices


• Experience in a direct-to-consumer or omnichannel grocery environment


• MBA or equivalent advanced degree