Senior Director of Category Management

Patterson Companies, Inc.; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 178,000 - 237,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits

401(k) with employer match

Paid holidays

Paid time off (PTO)

Volunteer Time Off (VTO)

Educational assistance

Job summary

Patterson Companies, Inc. is seeking a Senior Director of Category Management to lead the enterprise strategy, governance, and operating model for category management across the organization.

You will align commercial objectives with customer needs, sourcing strategies, supplier partnerships, and business priorities to accelerate growth and profitability. You will direct category leadership teams, establish enterprise standards, and integrate investments across business units.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education/experience in relevant fields.
• 12 years in category management, strategic sourcing, procurement, merchandising or related disciplines.
• 6 years leadership or people management experience.

Responsibilities

• Define enterprise category management vision, portfolio strategy and multi-year roadmap.
• Lead category management leaders across multiple categories or business segments.
• Establish and evolve enterprise frameworks, policies and operating standards.
• Direct portfolio reviews and category investment planning.
• Oversee development of advanced category analytics and performance measurement capabilities.
• Sponsor strategic supplier partnerships and executive-level business planning activities.
• Partner with executive leadership to align category strategies with organizational objectives.
• Build organizational capability through leadership and talent development.
• Comply with Company and department policies and standards.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Executive leadership

Financial analytics

Stakeholder management

Organizational development

Change leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Finance, or Supply Chain Management

Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Marketing (preferred)

Tools

Advanced analytics tools

Job description

The Senior Director Category Management leads the enterprise category management strategy and operating model, ensuring alignment between commercial objectives, customer needs, sourcing strategies, supplier partnerships, and business priorities. This role drives long-term category portfolio performance by overseeing category leadership teams, establishing enterprise standards and governance, and integrating category investments across business units to accelerate growth, profitability, and competitive advantage.

Essential Functions

• Define the enterprise category management vision, portfolio strategy, and multi-year roadmap, ensuring alignment with organizational growth objectives, customer needs, supplier capabilities, and market opportunities.
• Lead category management leaders across multiple categories or business segments, establishing priorities, governance, and performance expectations that drive consistent execution and business results.
• Establish and evolve enterprise frameworks, policies, and operating standards governing category strategy, assortment architecture, supplier management, sourcing practices, pricing governance, promotions, and lifecycle management.
• Direct enterprise portfolio reviews and category investment planning, balancing growth opportunities, margin objectives, inventory efficiency, supply continuity, and customer value creation across the category portfolio.
• Oversee the development of advanced category analytics, customer insights, and performance measurement capabilities that inform strategic decisions, improve forecasting accuracy, and strengthen competitive positioning.
• Sponsor strategic supplier partnerships and executive-level business planning activities that drive innovation, improve supplier performance, reduce risk, and create long-term value for the organization.
• Partner with executive leadership across Sales, Marketing, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and Procurement to align category strategies, resource investments, and transformation initiatives with organizational objectives.
• Build organizational capability through leadership of directors and managers, succession planning, talent development, budget oversight, and continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen category management effectiveness across the enterprise.
• Comply with Company and department policies and standards; performs other duties as assigned

People Management

• Accountable for team staffing and managing direct reports to include development, performance management, goal setting, and other managerial duties
• Ensures direct reports are aware of and follow ethical business practices and Company’s Code of Conduct to maintain a supportive and productive working environment.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management or equivalent education and/or experience
• 12 years in category management, strategic sourcing, procurement, merchandising or related disciplines
• 6 years leadership or people management experience

Preferred Requirements

• Master’s Degree Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Marketing or equivalent education and/or experience
• Executive-level experience leading category strategy across multiple business units, product portfolios, or market segments
• Experience leveraging advanced analytics, customer insights, and market intelligence to drive enterprise decision-making
• Experience overseeing large-scale supplier partnerships, strategic sourcing programs, and enterprise contract governance
• Demonstrated success leading business transformation, organizational change, and category performance improvement initiatives

Skills And Abilities

• Expert knowledge of category management, portfolio strategy, strategic sourcing, supplier governance, and merchandising principles
• Executive leadership capabilities for directing multiple levels of management and driving enterprise-wide organizational outcomes
• Strategic business acumen with expertise in balancing growth, profitability, customer value, supply continuity, and competitive positioning
• Advanced financial and analytical expertise used to evaluate portfolio performance, investment opportunities, market trends, and business risks
• Executive influencing and stakeholder management capabilities with demonstrated success leading through collaboration and organizational alignment
• Organizational development expertise focused on building leadership capability, succession pipelines, and high-performing teams
• Change leadership experience driving enterprise transformation, process improvement, and operating model evolution
• Strong communication and presentation capabilities for engaging executive leadership, suppliers, business partners, and external stakeholders

Physical and Cognitive Demands

• Communicate/Hearing Frequently
• Communicate/Talking Frequently
• Learn New Tasks or Concepts Frequently
• Make Timely Decisions in the Context of a Workflow Frequently
• Complete Tasks Independently Constantly

  Working Environment

  • Hazards Occasionally

  Environmental Conditions

  • Office: This position primarily operates in a professional office environment in which team members occupy desks in assigned areas or at meeting/collaboration spaces within the building. The building’s primary work areas consist of desks, chairs, computers, and other office equipment and devices for professional services.

  Travel Requirements

  • This position may require occasional travel 10% (e.g., supplier executive meetings, line reviews, industry events), up to 10%

  The potential compensation range for this role is below. The final offer amount could exceed this range, based on various factors such as candidate location (geographical labor market), experience, and skills. $177,700.00 – $237,033.33 We provide competitive benefits, unique incentive programs and rewards for our eligible employees. Benefits include full Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits and an integrated Wellness Program. Also included: A 401(k) retirement savings plan with an up to 4% employer match, 9 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, and Paid Time Off starting at 120 hours per year for full-time employees, Volunteer Time Off (VTO), educational assistance program, full paid parental and adoption leave, employee assistance program, and an employee discount program.