Hybrid Category Manager — Retail Merchandising & Strategy

applegreen; Hackensack (NJ); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance

10% Annual Bonus

Hybrid Work Arrangement

Earned Wage Access – Pay on Demand

Education Assistance

Employee Referral Bonus

Pet Insurance

401(k) with Company Match

Job summary

Applegreen is seeking a Category Manager to drive category strategies across our U.S. retail portfolio. You will own assortment, pricing, promotions, and vendor partnerships, delivering data-driven insights to boost sales and profitability.

The role requires 5+ years in retail buying or merchandising, strong Excel/Office skills, and proven negotiation abilities. This hybrid NJ-based position offers growth and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising, Supply Chain, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of retail buying, category management, merchandising, or procurement experience within convenience retail, grocery, FMCG, or retail industries.
• Strong experience negotiating supplier agreements and managing vendor relationships.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Office Suite.
• Experience with PDI and retail reporting platforms preferred.
• Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent planning, organization, and project management skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies that support sales growth, margin improvement, and overall business objectives.
• Manage product assortment, pricing, promotions, and merchandising plans for assigned categories.
• Analyze sales, margin, market, and customer data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
• Conduct category reviews and develop action plans to maximize category performance.
• Deliver accurate category forecasts, budgets, and performance reporting.
• Monitor product lifecycle performance and recommend additions, deletions, or assortment enhancements.
• Lead annual vendor negotiations to secure competitive pricing, rebates, promotional funding, and favorable commercial terms.
• Develop and execute joint business plans with key suppliers.
• Monitor vendor performance and ensure compliance with contractual agreements.
• Maximize rebate opportunities and ensure achievement of annual rebate targets.
• Develop planograms and promotional calendars with Operations/Marketing.
• Ensure promotions align with regional and seasonal business requirements.
• Evaluate promotional effectiveness and recommend improvements.
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, and Merchandising teams to ensure successful category execution.
• Support new product launches and category resets.
• Mentor and develop junior team members.

Skills

Analytical skills

Financial acumen

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising, Supply Chain, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Office Suite

PDI

Retail reporting platforms

Job description

Applegreen is seeking a Category Manager to drive category strategies across our U.S. retail portfolio. You will own assortment, pricing, promotions, and vendor partnerships, delivering data-driven insights to boost sales and profitability.

The role requires 5+ years in retail buying or merchandising, strong Excel/Office skills, and proven negotiation abilities. This hybrid NJ-based position offers growth and a comprehensive benefits package.