Category Manager - Automotive

Mills Fleet Farm e-Commerce Enterprises, LLC; Appleton (WI); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Team Member discounts

Hybrid work schedule

Full benefits

Job summary

Mills Fleet Farm e-Commerce Enterprises, LLC is seeking a Category Manager – Automotive Parts & Accessories to own the category strategy and drive profitability across stores and online channels.

You will analyze data, manage vendor relationships, and shape assortments from private label to national brands, while collaborating with merchandising, marketing, and supply chain teams in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• 3–5+ years in retail merchandising or category management, automotive or hardlines preferred.
• Strong retail P&L understanding.
• Experience negotiating supplier contracts.
• Excellent analytical and Excel skills.
• Familiarity with planogramming and eCommerce strategy.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Own category strategy across automotive parts, accessories, and tools.
• Analyze customer behavior, market trends, and category performance.
• Build compelling assortments with private label and national brands.
• Negotiate contracts and manage supplier relationships.
• Forecast demand and optimize inventory for seasonality.
• Collaborate with merchandising, marketing, supply chain, and stores.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel

Data dashboards

Vendor negotiation

Planogramming

Retail P&L concepts

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Corporate Office
2401 S Memorial Dr
Appleton, WI 54915, USA

Description

Drive the future of automotive retail:

Are you a strategic, data-driven merchant with a passion for the automotive industry? Join a fast-growing, customer-focused retailer that blends tradition with innovation. We’re seeking a Category Manager – Automotive Parts & Accessories to take ownership of high-performing product categories, shaping everything from assortment strategy to pricing, vendor negotiations, and merchandising.

As a Category Manager, you'll be the engine behind our category growth — using data and market trends to build competitive, customer-centric assortments that maximize sales and profitability across our stores and online platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own Category Strategy
  Develop and execute long-term category plans that drive revenue, margin, and market share across automotive parts, accessories, and tools.
• Data-Driven Decision Making
  Analyze customer behavior, market trends, and category performance to make informed recommendations on pricing, promotions, and assortment.
• Assortment & Merchandising
  Build compelling product assortments across private label and national brands. Partner with visual merchandising and planogram teams to bring strategies to life in-store and online.
• Vendor Management
  Negotiate contracts and maintain strong supplier relationships to secure competitive costs, reliable inventory, and exclusive offerings.
• Forecasting & Inventory Optimization
  Collaborate with inventory planning to ensure accurate demand forecasting and timely product availability, especially for seasonal and promotional cycles.
• Cross-Functional Leadership
  Work across merchandising, marketing, supply chain, and store operations teams to deliver seamless category execution and performance.
• Customer Focus
  Stay attuned to consumer preferences and industry trends to ensure we’re delivering what automotive enthusiasts and DIYers want most.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
• 3–5+ years in retail merchandising, category management, or product management — ideally in automotive or hardlines retail
• Strong understanding of retail P&L concepts (revenue, margin, turnover, etc.)
• Experience negotiating supplier contracts and managing vendor relationships
• Excellent analytical skills — comfortable working with Excel, data dashboards, and category performance reports
• Familiarity with planogramming, promotional planning, and eCommerce retail strategy
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment

Why Join Us?

• Lead one of the dynamic merchandise categories in automotive
• Collaborate with industry veterans and retail innovators
• Competitive salary, hybrid work schedule, full benefits, Team Member discounts, and growth opportunities

Fleet Farm is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and gives all applicants for employment equal consideration regardless of race, color, sex, gender, ethnicity, religious creed or belief, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status, military or veteran status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law. Upon request and consistent with applicable laws, Fleet Farm will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation to fully participate in the application process.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.