Growth-Focused Category Manager | Industrial eCommerce

Zoro.com; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 159,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Parental leave

Mental health support

Paid time off

401K with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Onsite gym

Job summary

Zoro.com in Chicago is seeking a Category Manager to oversee assigned product categories and supplier relationships, driving sales, profitability, assortment, and customer experience. You will develop category strategies, analyze performance data, identify growth opportunities, and negotiate with suppliers while coordinating cross-functional teams to execute initiatives in a fast-paced hybrid environment.

The role applies independent judgment to medium-sized or mature categories with leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5+ years in category management, merchandising, sourcing, or procurement.
• Experience in industrial distribution, wholesale, e-commerce, online marketplaces, or B2B environments preferred.
• Proven success developing category strategies, negotiating supplier agreements, and building strong vendor partnerships that drive growth and profitability.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and financial acumen, with the ability to translate data into actionable business decisions.
• Proven ability to identify opportunities, solve complex business problems, and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Naturally curious with a continuous learning mindset and the ability to quickly understand new products, markets, and customer needs.
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to prioritize competing demands and thrive in a fast-paced, agile environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with experience presenting recommendations to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Manages medium-sized and/or mature, high-impact product categories, with accountability for sales growth, profitability, assortment, and supplier performance.
• Develops category strategies using knowledge of target industries, customer segments, competitive dynamics, and market trends.
• Analyzes internal and external data to monitor key performance indicators, identify growth opportunities, and recommend actions that improve sales, margin, customer experience, and operational efficiency.
• Identifies customer needs and improves the shopping experience through assortment, content, and supplier execution.
• Identifies and evaluates prospective suppliers and communicates Zoro’s business model to establish new supplier relationships.
• Leads supplier negotiations and business reviews to secure commercial terms, expand assortments, manage performance, accelerate time to market, and support profitable growth.
• Partners with Merchandising, Marketing, Pricing, Operations, Product, and other cross-functional teams to execute category initiatives and address barriers to growth.

Skills

Experience/leadership

Negotiation

Analytical

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Communication

Adaptability

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Zoro.com in Chicago is seeking a Category Manager to oversee assigned product categories and supplier relationships, driving sales, profitability, assortment, and customer experience. You will develop category strategies, analyze performance data, identify growth opportunities, and negotiate with suppliers while coordinating cross-functional teams to execute initiatives in a fast-paced hybrid environment.

The role applies independent judgment to medium-sized or mature categories with leadership