Senior Category Manager

Jump Start Stores, Inc.; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Jump Start Stores, Inc. in Wichita, KS seeks a Senior Category Manager to drive center store profitability and support our loyalty campaign, overseeing procurement, pricing, promotions, and inventory from start to end.

You will develop category strategies, curate assortments, manage vendors, optimize product lifecycles, implement pricing and promotions, and collaborate with marketing, operations, and supply chain to align with objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, merchandising, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years proven experience in convenience or grocery category management.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and draw actionable insights.
• Proficiency in Tableau or Power BI report creation.
• Excellent negotiation and vendor management skills.
• Proficiency in using analytical tools and software for market research and performance analysis.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with cross-functional collaboration.
• Detail-oriented with a strategic mindset and ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Category Strategy Development: Develop category strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Assortment Planning: Curate a balanced assortment within the category.
• Vendor Management: Source and negotiate with vendors for favorable terms.
• Product Lifecycle Management: Manage lifecycle from selection to end-of-life.
• Pricing and Promotion: Implement pricing strategies and promotional activities.
• Performance Analysis: Monitor sales, margin, inventory turnover, and market share.
• Market Research: Identify trends and competitive threats using data insights.
• Loyalty Program: Align loyalty strategies with objectives across teams.
• Space Planning: Optimize product placement and visual merchandising in stores.
• Forecasting and Inventory Management: Forecast demand and prevent stockouts/overstock.
• Compliance and Vendor Relationships: Ensure contracts compliance and strong vendor relations.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Vendor management

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Data interpretation

Tableau

Power BI

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Merchandising, or related field

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

As a Senior Category Manager in the retail industry, you will be responsible for driving sales through center store profitability. Additionally structuring programs to support our new customer loyalty campaign. You will oversee the entire lifecycle from selection and procurement to pricing, promotion, and inventory management. By analyzing market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive landscape, you will develop strategies to maximize sales and optimize the assortment mix to meet customer demands. Collaboration with cross-functional teams such as marketing, operations, and supply chain is essential to ensure alignment with overall business objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Category Strategy Development: Develop comprehensive category strategies aligned with overall business objectives, considering market trends, customer preferences, and competitive landscape.
• Assortment Planning: Curate a well-balanced assortment mix within the category, ensuring a diverse range of products to meet varying customer needs and preferences.
• Vendor Management: Source, evaluate, and negotiate with vendors to secure favorable terms, including pricing, discounts, and promotional support.
• Product Lifecycle Management: Manage the entire product lifecycle, from selection and introduction to end-of-life, ensuring optimal inventory levels and timely clearance of obsolete items.
• Pricing and Promotion: Implement pricing strategies and promotional activities to drive sales and maximize profitability while remaining competitive in the market.
• Performance Analysis: Continuously monitor category performance metrics, including sales, margin, inventory turnover, and market share, and take corrective actions as necessary.
• Market Research: Conduct market research and analysis to identify emerging trends, consumer preferences, and competitive threats, and leverage insights to make data-driven decisions.
• Loyalty Program: Collaborate with marketing, merchandising, operations, and finance to ensure alignment of loyalty program strategies meet assigned objectives.
• Space Planning: Collaborate with space planning teams to optimize product placement and visual merchandising within stores, enhancing the shopping experience and maximizing sales potential.
• Forecasting and Inventory Management: Work closely with inventory planning teams to forecast demand, optimize inventory levels, and minimize stockouts and overstock situations.
• Compliance and Vendor Relationships: Ensure compliance with vendor agreements, contracts, and legal requirements, and foster strong relationships with key vendors to drive mutual success.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Marketing, Merchandising, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years proven experience in convenience or grocery category management.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and draw actionable insights.
• Proficiency in Tableau or Power Bi report creation.
• Excellent negotiation and vendor management skills.
• Proficiency in using analytical tools and software for market research and performance analysis.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented with a strategic mindset and the ability to think critically and creatively.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, independent environment and adapt to changing business needs.

**Note:** This job description serves as a general guideline and may be adjusted based on the specific requirements of the hiring organization.

• Relocation Fee Paid

Must be willing to work in Wichita, KS & live within 30 Minutes.

Must be able to pass a pre-employment background screen and drug screen.