Senior Category Manager - Product

Senior Category Manager

Manage the strategic development and planning for assigned category, as a subset of a larger group of categories led by the Senior Category Manager. Ensure category sales plans are consistent with the overall Merchandising strategy. Promote and verify execution of category strategy at the store and ensure that the category fits into the total store perspective.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Sales & Planning :

• Manages, improves and recommends the product assortment for the stores on a national basis for assigned category.
• Develops annual category plans which include current situation analysis, vision / strategy, and specific category plans.
• Plans include assortment and positioning, product improvements and development plans, projected revenue and gross profit, display, price, promotion and communication to stores.
• Drill plans down into seasonal calendars, monthly implementation plans, and recurring assortment change calendars.
• Performs monthly analysis and verification of plans.
• Provides explanations for variances in budgeted sales and gross profit and provides projection for upcoming months.
• Develops an in-depth understanding of the key strategic initiatives and policies of merchandising and ensures assigned category strategies are within Merchandising and Corporate strategy and policy.
• Develops pricing strategy for assigned categories.
• Develops recommended retail pricing guidelines (which are subject to executive committee approval) for the stores to optimize category profitability and establishes suggested retail prices within these guidelines.
• Reviews competitor pricing information gathered by Zone Merchandising Leaders, Merchandisers and pricing group and recommends pricing.
• Approves pricing recommendations made by Associate Category Manager.
• Works with Marketing Department on advertising / promotions for assigned category.
• Works on POP, co-op agreements and promotion timetables and strategies.
• Develops cost / benefit analysis to determine return on advertising and promotional dollars.

Vendor or Supplier Relationships / Supply Chain Management :

Assortment / Display management (including POP / Customer messaging) :

Conduit for communication :

Education and Experience :

Bachelor's Degree

5-7 years of relevant work experience

2+ years of management experience

Certifications / licenses : NA

Specific knowledge and skills :