Category Manager

Job Title: Category Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt

Department: Marketing

Reports to: Director of Marketing

Position Summary: Responsible for creating the vision, setting the strategy and tactics, and managing the daily functions of specific categories within the framework of the overall Marketing strategy. This includes product selection, procurement, merchandising, pricing and promotional activity. Accountable for category margin management and growth. This position will interface with vendors such as CPG manufacturers, product brokers, technology vendors, advertising agencies, graphic designers. Position requires strong negotiating skills to minimize product costs. Position must work seamlessly with all departments and external stakeholders. May be required to development advertising and communication vehicles, public relations and overall image strategies. Additional responsibilities will include coordination and participation related to community events, corporate events and key marketing initiatives. Position will also manage media relations, website development.

General Purpose: To provide our customers with total satisfaction by offering competitively priced, high quality products and services in a clean, safe and friendly environment. To serve our community through volunteerism and produce a return on assets which will assure the future prosperity of our employees and our company. To be an ambassador of our “Living Brand” by building relationships with our customers.

Role Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or business related discipline
• Strong writing and communications skills with high degree of creativity
• Proficient in Microsoft Office…Excel and Access are required

Position Responsibilities:

• Builds Relationships
• Foster the Culture
• Promotes Living Brand
• Serves as Product Brand Advocate
• Create the vision, strategy and tactics, and daily management to growing profitable sales of assigned categories.
• Responsible for profitable procurement and marketing of new items and programs, merchandise displays, and promotions
• Must optimize category product assortment and pricing
• Responsible for all types of data analysis for assigned categories to better understand the state of the category, formulate strategy and tactics, and measure success / verify category plan
• Organize, maintain, and project necessary written analysis of information to derive at purchasing, merchandising, advertising and marketing decisions
• Work cross functionally for seamless execution of category plans
• Plan and execute store sets / resets and manage category / store specific schematics
• Ensure that all vendors are aware of and comply with the Family Express Corporation vendor policy
• Maintain and manage vendor relations
• Assisting in ensuring information accuracy of price book and information management systems
• Communicate effectively and timely through the organization on category development, plan execution, plan verification
• Be able to effectively and professionally interact with the community, industry, customers, vendors, and any other external stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills, demonstrating ability to follow-through with project initiatives in an efficient and timely manner
• Negotiating lowest cost of goods and vendor negotiations related to promotions and program development
• Maintain store display and merchandising strategies related to assigned categories
• Coordination of advertising and promotional efforts
• Development and production of corporate communications tools and vehicles
• Coordinate and facilitate Family Express’ participation and relations in community, local, and charitable events
• All other duties as assigned

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Situational Awareness
• Creative, out of the box thinking
• Must be able to function in a fast paced results driven environment
• Strong customer orientation
• Time management including multitasking, productivity, and a sense of urgency
• High performance team building and strong team player
• Commitment to company mission and values
• Constructively deals with conflict
• Adaptability, flexibility and receptive to change
• Problem analysis & problem resolution at both strategic & functional level
• Effective fact-based decision making based on sound judgment, reasoning and collaboration
• Ability to read, write and understand English
• Sufficiently proficient with price book, and information management products
• Demonstrative background of stability and longevity with previous employment

Nonessential Skills and Experience:

• Previous retail experience

Physical demands and work environment:

• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for prolonged periods; work longer than eight (8) hour shifts, reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch; talk and hear; taste and smell. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
• Work Environment: Must have flexibility, all days of the week, when necessary.