Category Manager

Are you curious about solving complex business challenges for a leading convenience retailer?  Do you have a passion for cross functional collaboration?  Then you may be the perfect addition to our team 

EG America is one of the fastest-growing convenience store retailers in the United States, committed to becoming America’s #1 ‘one-stop’ destination. The business has an established pedigree of delivering excellent fuel, grocery and merchandise, and food service. Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, our Company has grown to over 1,500+ locations across the United States employing over 18,000 team members.  You can find us operating under the following store banners: Certified Oil, Cumberland Farms, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf N Jug, Minit Mart, Sprint Food Stores, Tom Thumb, Turkey Hill, and Quik Stop. Our headquarters in Westborough, MA is home to our Store Support Center, Company Warehouse, and Culinary Center.

What We Offer:

• Competitive Wages
• Work today, get paid tomorrow through our earned wage access program*
• Paid Time Off
• Medical/Health/Dental Coverage
• 401K with Company Match
• Team Member Discounts
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Savings Account
• Company Spirit Days
• Employee recognition and awards
• And much more

Position Summary:

Category Manager primary role is to optimize potential of designated categories by identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer needs efficiently and profitably, by proactively and effectively managing marketing mix elements  (“Product”; “Price”; “Promotion”; “Place”), always applying category management principles. Key objectives are to maximize category sales and profit, along with other key metrics, providing strong business performance and contribution to company. Always work proactively and productively in building and leveraging partnerships with vendors to help optimize business performance. In addition to meeting end consumer needs (by offering compelling customer proposition), also needs to ensure it is a priority to fully support Retail Team Members (i.e. stores) and respond to, and address issues as necessary. Work productively from a cross functional perspective with other departments, such as Advertising and Merchandising

Responsibilities:

1.       Product Management

• Determine and manage product offering, ensuring it is compelling and relevant to our customers, and capitalizes on product and category trends, and major new item launches.
• Requires strong analytical skills to optimize category performance.
• Work with vendors proactively in building relationship and determining product offering.
• Follow all established processes for new and discontinued items, and make recommendations for areas of improvement.
• In addition to managing national brands, should identify and initiate development of any relevant private label opportunities.

2.       Price Management

• Retail pricing: Propose, establish, and manage retail prices based on role of product and category, and monitor to ensure they are broadly competitive while delivering budgeted margin rate. Proactively work with vendors to negotiate support and appropriate costs to ensure attractive retail prices on key items.
• Cost pricing: Ensure continual strong negotiation with vendors to deliver best possible costs, and develop strong vendor relationships.
• Follow established processes and systems for retail price and cost price management.
• Negotiate supply, cost and marketing fund contracts with vendors as necessary and relevant.

3.       Place Management

• Proactively work with Merchandising Team to optimize product offering and presentation, and determining where and how we should display and sell.
• Optimize range and space configuration on ongoing basis, based on market trends and new items.
• Work with merchandising team and vendors to develop planogram updates, and ensure major resets are carefully pre-planned and managed.

4.       Promotion Activity Management

• Work with vendors to develop highly compelling promotional activity, negotiating strong funding support.
• Ensure promotional deadlines are met and accounting processes are followed.
• Conduct pre and post promotional analysis to optimize future promotional activity.
• Work with advertising team for promotional signage and any special support needed.

5.       Financial and Business Performance Management

• Proactive financial management, including reviewing profit/margin reports, and sales reports, compared to budget to ensure strong performance and trends, making recommendations for any necessary course correction to address gaps.
• Optimize category potential and proactively exploit opportunities and address weaknesses by reviewing category performance, analyzing and researching internal and industry sales data and trends, and relevant industry and vendor insights and data, including reviewing best practices across trade channels, to ensure strong performance vs. market trends.

6.       Team Member Management

• Proactively manage any direct or indirect reports, ensuring they are motivated, working at their full potential, and exploit any development opportunities.
• Embrace commitment to our “Values”, and contribute strongly to helping make EG America a great place to work
• Work professionally and productively with other team members from a cross functional perspective, soliciting support and insights as needed.
• Make it a priority to help support retail store team, and “Succeed Together” by responding to questions and issues as quickly, professionally and positively as possible. Communicate proactively relevant important updates and initiatives to retail team. Spend necessary time visiting stores with retail team, to understand and address issues and opportunities.

7.       Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Working Relationships:

INTERNAL:  Within Marketing: Direct and Indirect Reports; Advertising Team; POS/Price Book Team; Merchandising/Planogram Team Within Store Support Center: IT Department; Legal Department; Strategic Sourcing; Finance Team; Supply Chain/Warehouse Team, Retail Operations Team: Retail Vice President’s; Regional Manager’s;  District Manager’s, Store Managers                                                                                                                                                                                    

EXTERNAL: Direct Vendors,  Brokers, Distributors (especially for DSD categories)

Minimum Education:

HS Diploma or GED

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Preferred

Minimum Experience:

Category Management or Related; Negotiation; Marketing; Retail Experience; Track record of developing category strategy and success in implementing marketing and merchandising programs in a retail environment.

Preferred Experience:

5 years Category Management Experience

Licenses/Certifications:

Soft Skills/Competencies:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong Presentation Skills
• Ability to foster team work and build collaborative relationships
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Other:

Travel: No travel required

Hours & Conditions: Typically Monday – Friday,  8+ hour days in an office setting.

Physical Requirements: Minimal physical effort required; sitting / standing at computer for long periods of time.  Ability to maneuver and lift up to 10 lbs.

At EG America, it’s important that our employees reflect the world we live in and the communities we serve. We celebrate our differences, so your unique background and skillset could bring a wonderful new perspective to our team. If you have a passion for delivering exceptional results, thrive in a fast-paced corporate environment, and bring experience in business management or related areas, we'd love to meet you - even if you don't meet every single requirement.