Category Manager (Merchant)

The Restaurant Store; Lancaster, Northern (Lancaster County, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Restaurant Store in Lancaster, PA is seeking a Merchandiser/Category Manager to drive performance in a defined product segment. You will develop growth strategies, negotiate vendor programs, and strengthen supplier partnerships to support catalog and category objectives.

This hybrid role requires three days on-site weekly and close collaboration with internal teams to optimize pricing, quality, and service, delivering value to customers.

Responsibilities

• Oversee category management within an assigned segment and align with category strategies.
• Negotiate and execute annual vendor programs for pricing, terms, and value.
• Develop, implement, and own growth strategies for assigned categories.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key vendors to support long-term category objectives and catalog strategy.
• Identify opportunities for improvement across pricing, quality, and service, and implement enhancements proactively.
• Apply proficiency in category analysis to optimize performance and support strategic decisions.
• Utilize strong organizational and communication skills to collaborate across internal and external partners.
• Demonstrate knowledge of product materials, features, and attributes to inform category strategy and product decisions.
• Independently identify category improvement opportunities and execute plans to address them.

Job description

Job Summary

The Merchantis responsible foremanging performance within an assigned product segment or major category. This role develops and executes growth strategies, negotiates competitive vendor programs, and nurtures strong supplier partnerships that support overall catalog and categoryobjectives. The Merchant drives continuous improvement in pricing, processes, quality, and service while ensuring alignment with organizational goals and delivering value to customers.

This is a hybrid position that requires 3 days a week in-person.

Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilityrequired. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Oversee category management within an assigned segment or major category, ensuring alignment with business and category strategies
• Negotiate and execute annual vendor programs that deliver competitive pricing, favorable terms, and strategic value
• Develop, implement, and own growth strategies for assigned categories
• Build andmaintainstrong relationships with key vendors to support long-term categoryobjectivesand overall catalog strategy
• Identifyopportunities for improvement acrosspricing,quality, and service, and implement enhancements proactively
• Applyproficiencyincategory analysis and development tooptimizeperformance and support strategic decision-making
• Utilize strong organizational and communication skills to collaborate effectively across internal and external partners
• Demonstrate knowledge of product materials, features, and attributes to inform category strategy and product decisions
• Independentlyidentifycategory improvement opportunities and execute plans to address them