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Associate Category Manager, Store Support Center, Lenexa, KS

Associate Category Manager, Store Support Center, Lenexa, KS

Westlake Ace HardwareLenexa, KS, US
3 days ago
Job type
  • Full-time
Job description

Associate Category Manager

Ace Retail Holdings (ARH), the division of Ace Hardware Corporation that owns and operates several Ace brands, is one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States. ARH is one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States and has two headquarters located in Lenexa, KS and Farmington Hills, MI. ARH's origins date back over a century and operates over 250 neighborhood stores located throughout the United States. Great people make ARH stand out in our industry, and we are looking for individuals who strive for personal and professional growth, and who want to work with a company founded on (and still led by) our solid Core Values of :

Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility and Teamwork

General Job Summary The Associate Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing merchandising strategies that drive profitable sales growth within assigned business segments. This role collaborates closely with cross-functional partners across the organization to ensure optimal assortment, financial performance, and customer satisfaction. The Associate Category Manager also provides exceptional service to both internal and external customers, clearly communicates category strategies and implementation plans, and is highly responsive to customer and store needs.

Category Focus This role will be responsible for categories that are highly impulse-driven and trend-sensitive. The Associate Category Manager must anticipate customer needs, understand emerging trends, and apply insights to drive sales, units per transaction, and customer engagement. Examples of potential categories include :

  • Seasonal or promotional items
  • Impulse or gift-related categories
  • Trend-driven home, hardware, or specialty merchandise

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Assortment Strategy and Management
  • Retail Support & Customer Service
  • Financial Accountability
  • Leadership and Management
  • Partnership and Cross-Functional Collaboration

    • Other Essential Requirements Ability to exhibit and incorporate our Core Values into daily decisions and interactions with others :

  • WINNING In business, money is the score. To win, we must perform, compete, and have fun. At Ace, we win through people- our strength is being helpful.
  • EXCELLENCE Excellence honors God and inspires people. We aspire to be the best, to continuously improve and to inspire others by giving the team our very best.
  • LOVE Love the people, love the work and love the results.
  • INTEGRITY For Ace to win, we need to be able to trust each other. And trust will require us to be honest, reliable, caring, of high character and of unquestioned ethics.
  • GRATITUDE We recognize that we are blessed to be in the business of serving others.
  • HUMILITY We strive for greatness with a humble, modest and respectful attitude.
  • TEAMWORK We will fight the natural tendency for control and credit in favor of collaboration and mutual success, recognizing thatTogether, we are Ace.

    • Minimum Skills, Requirements and Qualifications

  • BS / BA Degree in Business Management preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • 2-5 years minimum experience in merchandising or buying.
  • Solid understanding of retail ops, relationship sales skills, business fundamentals, merchandising strategies, and assortment planning.
  • Knowledge of neighborhood hardware store B2B and DIY customers.
  • Refined interpersonal skills for engaging others effectively, both written and verbal.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic business environment.
  • Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Ability to work independently and be highly self-motivated.
  • Familiarity with modern marketing techniques across electronic, digital, and social media platforms.
  • Analytical thinker, team player, customer-focused, and business-minded.
  • Proficient in Microsoft 365 : Excel, Word, Teams, PowerPoint.
  • Strong Excel skills including charts, VLOOKUPs, data manipulation, and macros.
  • Travel as required : Approximately 10%
  • Ability to stand, walk, lift up to 25 lbs, and climb.

    • Compensation Details

    $50000 - $70000 per year

    Equal Opportunity Employer Westlake Ace Hardware is committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military discharge, or any other action covered by federal or state laws.

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    Category Manager • Lenexa, KS, US