Director of Category Management

Quality Bicycle Products; BLOOMINGTON (MN); On-site; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

DEI-focused culture

B-Corp and Equal Opportunity Employer

Travel up to 8 times annually

Job summary

Quality Bicycle Products, Inc. is seeking a Director of Category Management to lead our Category Management organization and oversee the Canadian business from headquarters in Bloomington.

You will shape category strategy, manage supplier and brand partnerships, optimize assortment and pricing, and drive the overall portfolio growth. You will lead a team of Category Business Managers and drive cross-functional initiatives to deliver growth, profitability, and customer value.

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading large commercial/category teams.
• Deep understanding of category management and supplier partnerships.
• Strong data analytics, forecasting, and decision-making.
• Experience shaping strategic business plans for growth and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of category strategy, supplier and brand leadership across the distribution portfolio.
• Own portfolio performance including sales, margin, inventory, and market share; set KPIs and drive improvements.
• Develop and coach Category Managers and Canada leadership; build succession and depth in the team.
• Oversee planning, budgeting, resource stewardship, and cross-functional alignment with enterprise objectives.
• Lead executive-level supplier discussions, negotiations, and portfolio optimization.
• Drive organizational change, processes, and capability development for scalability.

Skills

Leadership

Category management

Supplier relationships

Strategic planning

Data-driven

Team development

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

What You Will Be Accountable For

The Director of Category Management leads QBP’s Category Management organization and provides leadership oversight for the Canadian business. This role is responsible for the performance and growth of QBP’s distribution portfolio through leadership of category strategy, supplier and brand partnerships, assortment management, pricing execution, portfolio optimization, and commercial business planning.

Key Activities and Responsibilities

Category Strategy, Supplier and Brand Leadership | 30%

• Lead the development and execution of category, supplier, and brand strategies across QBP’s distribution portfolio.
• Establish and strengthen strategic supplier and brand relationships that drive long-term value, growth, and competitive advantage for QBP and its customers.
• Lead executive-level supplier discussions, business reviews, strategic negotiations, and growth initiatives.
• Guide supplier portfolio decisions, partnership priorities, and commercial opportunities.
• Oversee assortment, pricing, and supplier strategies to ensure alignment with customer needs and enterprise objectives.
• Establish standards and expectations for supplier and brand relationship management across the department.
• Drive alignment among supplier strategies, category plans, customer needs, and company priorities.

Category Performance and Portfolio Management | 25%

• Own overall performance of the distribution portfolio, including sales, margin, inventory productivity, profitability, and market share.
• Establish performance expectations, KPIs, and business objectives across the category portfolio.
• Lead portfolio business reviews and ensure accountability to performance plans.
• Identify portfolio risks, growth opportunities, and changing market conditions.
• Drive corrective actions and portfolio adjustments when performance falls below expectations.
• Evaluate supplier, category, and brand performance to support investment, pricing, assortment, and growth decisions.
• Promote disciplined decision-making through data, customer insights, and market intelligence.

Team Leadership and Organizational Development | 20%

• Lead, coach, and develop Senior Category Business Managers, Category Business Managers, and the Senior Manager of QBP Canada.
• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability measures, and development plans.
• Build leadership capability, succession readiness, and organizational depth across the department.
• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing talent.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain Category Management standards, processes, tools, and best practices.
• Lead organizational and process improvements that strengthen department effectiveness and scalability.

Business Planning and Execution | 10%

• Lead annual category planning and goal-setting processes.
• Ensure category strategies translate into executable business plans and measurable outcomes.
• Align category priorities with enterprise objectives and long-term portfolio strategy.
• Evaluate market trends, competitive activity, customer insights, and supplier opportunities to inform business decisions.
• Monitor execution against strategic priorities and adjust plans as business conditions evolve.
• Present portfolio recommendations, opportunities, risks, and priorities to senior leadership.

Canada Business Leadership | 10%

• Lead and develop the Senior Manager of QBP Canada.
• Ensure Canadian business priorities align with enterprise and portfolio objectives.
• Monitor Canadian business performance, growth opportunities, risks, and strategic initiatives.
• Align assortment, pricing, supplier, inventory, and growth strategies between Canada and the broader distribution portfolio.
• Ensure Canadian market needs and opportunities are represented in category and portfolio decisions.

Planning, Budget and Resource Stewardship | 5%

• Develop and manage departmental plans, budgets, and resource requirements.
• Develop recommendations regarding staffing, organizational priorities, training, and capability-building investments.
• Monitor department performance against approved plans and spending expectations.
• Manage travel, support, and discretionary expenses within approved budgets.
• Identify resource constraints and provide recommendations that improve organizational effectiveness and business performance.

Measures of Success

• Distribution portfolio sales, margin, inventory productivity, profitability, and market-share performance.
• Achievement of supplier growth commitments, partnership objectives, and strategic initiatives.
• Assortment productivity and portfolio optimization.
• Pricing quality, timeliness, and execution.
• Achievement of annual category plans and strategic priorities.
• Development, engagement, and retention of Category Management talent.
• Leadership depth and succession readiness.
• Canadian business alignment and performance.
• Organizational effectiveness and execution consistency across Category Management function.
• Department performance against approved plans and spending expectations.

What You Need to Succeed

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated success leading significant commercial, merchandising, category management, or portfolio function with business-wide impact.
• Deep understanding of bicycle industry dynamics, customer needs, supplier relationships, market trends, and the independent bicycle retailer channel. Significant bicycle industry experience or demonstrated expertise in closely related industries combined with a passion for cycling and advancing the bicycle industry.
• Proven success managing complex product portfolios, category strategies, and supplier partnerships.
• Significant leadership experience, including leading managers, developing talent, and building high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic business plans that drive profitable growth and improved market performance.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including sales, margin, inventory productivity, pricing, and profitability management.
• Experience leading strategic supplier negotiations and executive-level supplier relationships.
• Proven ability to influence and align cross-functional teams and senior leaders in a matrixed environment.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change, process improvement, and capability-development initiatives.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with effective day-to-day execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, Economics, Merchandising, Product Management, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• Experience leading large, multi-category product portfolios and complex supplier networks.
• Experience supporting Canadian or international business operations.
• Experience developing succession plans and organizational capabilities.
• Advanced degree or relevant executive leadership development.

Other Related Criteria

Travel

• Ability to travel domestically or internationally up to 8 times annually
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and passport and fulfill the requirements of being a QBP Approved Driver.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform work extensively using a computer and telephone.
• Ability to participate in customer, supplier, company, and industry meetings and events as required.

Model QBP Core Values

• Act with integrity
• Be a true partner
• Create something special
• Deliver greatness
• Keep the customer first

As a QBP leader, the Director of Category Management will serve as a role model for QBP’s DEI mission by creating a work environment where everyone has respect, space, a voice, and the opportunity to thrive.

Quality Bicycle Products is proud to be a certified B-Corp and an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent from all backgrounds and encourage employees to bring their authentic selves to work. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy or related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristic.

Quality Bicycle Products approaches pay in an ethical and transparent way. Pay ranges are assigned to a job based on market data from 3rd party salary benchmark data as well as balancing internal equity of other roles with similar levels of responsibility. Individual pay within the range can vary for several reasons including, but not limited to, skills, abilities, experience, tenure, performance, and available budget.