Strategic Category Manager — Local Vendors & Growth

Holiday Stationstores; Minnetonka (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Circle K in Minnetonka, MN seeks a skilled Merchandising Manager to increase category gross profit by selecting local suppliers, evaluating new products, and negotiating pricing. You will support national activities while guiding junior staff.

You will own local assortment and planogram execution, drive frontline pricing, manage vendor relationships, and develop promotional concepts to boost sales and margins. Travel up to 30% may be required; a valid driver's license is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in advertising, finance, management, business economics, or related field.
• Five years of experience or more preferred in merchandising; including experience in management.
• Proficient in MS Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word preferred.
• Must have strong relationship management, analytical thinking, and financial acumen skills.
• May require up to 30% of travel.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Supports the organization's strategic direction.
• Responsible for local assortment and planogram execution.
• Owns frontline pricing decisions.
• Responsible for vendor operations and local relationships.
• Responsible for planogram implementation – resets (including all 3rd party relationships).
• Responsible for actionable operational reporting (Out of Stock, Zero Sales Reporting, Delivery Frequency, and others as necessary).
• Selects local vendors, negotiates costs, terms for products, and develops schematics by applying category management principles.
• Increases sales revenues by developing promotional concepts and overlay programs on local assortment.
• Establishes and monitors gross margins by forecasting and developing annual sales quotas, projecting expected sales volume and profit for existing and new products, and determining placement and promotions.
• Projects and measures category sales and gross profit results by developing and maintaining records of item cost, retail, and gross margin dollars.
• Maintains external local and national vendor relations by providing direction, guidance, and information, resolving concerns.
• Recommends changes in products, service, and policy by evaluating results and competitive developments.
• Achieves financial objectives by preparing an annual category review, budget, scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances, initiating corrective actions.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reading professional publications, establishing personal networks; or participating in professional societies.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing determined Financial and Key Result Area targets pursuant to Company Plan guidelines.

Skills

Merchandising experience

Relationship management

Analytical thinking

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

MS Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

Circle K in Minnetonka, MN seeks a skilled Merchandising Manager to increase category gross profit by selecting local suppliers, evaluating new products, and negotiating pricing. You will support national activities while guiding junior staff.

You will own local assortment and planogram execution, drive frontline pricing, manage vendor relationships, and develop promotional concepts to boost sales and margins. Travel up to 30% may be required; a valid driver's license is essential.