Category Program Manager Private Label

Brooks Equipment Company; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Brooks Equipment Company seeks a Category Program Manager – Private Label to drive sub-category strategy and growth. You will work with cross-functional teams and suppliers to optimize assortment, develop new products, and lead sourcing initiatives.

Strong analytics and negotiation skills are essential for improving profitability across domestic and international markets. The role involves data-driven decision making, product development support, and international travel to assess manufacturing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Sourcing, or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in Category Management, Product Development, Buying, Procurement, or related commercial role.
• Experience with private label or international sourcing preferred.
• Ability to translate data into actionable business insights.

Responsibilities

• Manage private label sub-categories, monitor sales, profitability, and metrics.
• Identify growth and margin opportunities; develop business cases for new products and sourcing.
• Support product development, including supplier selection, sampling, and commercialization.
• Optimize assortment, SKU rationalization, and lifecycle decisions.
• Negotiate with domestic and international vendors for pricing and supply continuity.
• Collaborate with Sales, Supply Chain, Marketing, Finance and others to execute strategies.
• Prepare reports, dashboards, and presentations for strategic decisions.
• Travel internationally as needed to visit suppliers and support development initiatives.

Skills

Analytical skills

Data interpretation

Negotiation

Supplier relationship mgmt

Communication

Problem solving

Collaboration

Excel

BI platforms

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Sourcing, or related

Tools

Excel

BI platforms

Job description

Position SummaryThe Category Program Manager – Private Label is responsible for managing assigned private label sub-categories and supporting category strategy execution through data-driven analysis, product development, sourcing initiatives, and business case development. This role partners closely with cross-functional teams and domestic and international suppliers to identify private label opportunities, optimize product assortment, improve category performance, and drive profitable growth.Key ResponsibilitiesManage the performance of assigned private label sub-categories by monitoring sales, profitability, and key business metrics.Identify private label growth and margin improvement opportunities, and develop business cases for new product introductions, product conversions, and sourcing initiatives.Support product development initiatives, including product specifications, supplier selection, sampling, and commercialization.Optimize product assortment, SKU rationalization, and product lifecycle decisions to maximize category performance.Participate in domestic and international vendor sourcing and negotiation activities to secure competitive pricing, quality, and supply continuity.Collaborate with Sales, Supply Chain, Marketing, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to execute private label strategies.Analyze market trends, customer insights, and competitive activity to identify growth opportunities.Prepare reports, dashboards, and presentations to support strategic decision-making.Support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance category efficiency and profitability.Travel internationally as needed to visit suppliers, evaluate manufacturing capabilities, and support product development initiatives.Required Skills & CompetenciesStrong analytical and quantitative skills.Solid understanding of category management and private label principles.Emerging negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.Understanding of product development and international sourcing processes preferred.Ability to translate complex data into actionable business insights.Excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.Strong communication and collaboration skills.Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis tools; experience with BI platforms is a plus.Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Sourcing, or a related field.3–5 years of experience in Category Management, Product Development, Buying, Procurement, or a related commercial role.Experience developing business cases and analyzing product performance preferred.Experience working with international suppliers or private label products preferred.Key Performance Indicators (Success Metrics)Achievement of private label revenue growth and margin targets.Successful development and launch of new private label products.Improvement in SKU productivity and assortment effectiveness.Return on investment (ROI) from private label and sourcing initiatives.Supplier performance, including cost, quality, delivery, and service levels.Timely execution of category strategies and cross-functional initiatives.