Category Manager

he Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing category strategies to drive sales, margin, and inventory efficiency. This role owns the end-to-end performance of assigned categories, including assortment strategy, vendor partnerships, pricing, inventory productivity, merchandising execution, and training the Assistant Buyer to support these initiatives.Key Responsibilities:Category Strategy, Expertise & AssortmentServe as the category expert for assigned lines, developing deep understanding of products, applications, customer needs, and performance trends.Develop and execute category strategies that improve sales, margin, and inventory turns.Leverage category insights from vendors, competitive analysis, and market research to build expertise and inform assortment, pricing, and promotional decisions.Maintain strong understanding of key business KPIs (sales, margin, turns, fill rate, conversion) and how category decisions impact performance.Conduct proactive research and analysis to identify risks or opportunities, and develop action plans to improve categories performing below expectations.Lead line reviews end-to-end, including scheduling, vendor preparation, data analysis, and final assortment decisions.Own SKU assortment including new product introductions, rationalization, and lifecycle management.Identify whitespace opportunities and ensure “first to market” positioning on key products.Vendor Management & SourcingBuild and maintain strong vendor partnerships rooted in accountability and mutual growth.Negotiate cost, terms, rebates, freight, and promotional support.Evaluate and onboard new vendors that enhance assortment and profitability.Monitor vendor performance across fill rate, quality, content accuracy, and growth metrics.Pricing & PromotionEstablish competitive and profitable pricing strategies aligned with company guidelines.Partner with marketing to execute catalog, web, and promotional plans.Drive and maximize vendor-funded promotions and rebate programs to enhance margin and competitiveness.Leverage vendor funding for programs such as exclusives, first-to-market opportunities, and seasonal events.Inventory & Financial ManagementManage category P&L including sales, margin, and inventory turns.Analyze reports to optimize stocking decisions and identify slow-moving inventory.Take proactive action based on KPI performance, implementing plans to improve underperforming SKUs, vendors, or category segments.Drive inventory efficiency through forward buys, exit strategies, and vendor returns.Manage and negotiate RGA agreements with vendors to keep inventory relevant and productive.Merchandising & Customer ExperienceEnsure best-in-class web and catalog merchandising including product content, images, and cross-references.Enhance the customer journey through strong assortment architecture and accessory selling.Cross-Functional Collaboration & TeamPartner with inventory, marketing, IT, supply chain, and customer service to execute category plans and resolve issues.Manage and mentor the Assistant Buyer, training them to assist with vendor setup, SKU creation, data maintenance, and line review preparation.Support the Assistant Buyer in executing day-to-day operational tasks while developing their category expertise and analytical skills.You Have:3–5+ years of experience in buying, merchandising, or category management (automotive aftermarket preferred).Demonstrated ability to develop category expertise and translate insights into actionable assortment decisions.Experience leading or supporting line reviews.Understanding of key business KPIs and ability to develop action plans to address performance gaps.Strong analytical and negotiation skills.Passion for high-performance automotive products.Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel required).Benefits:401(k)Health, Dental, Vision, and Life InsuranceEmployee Assistance ProgramEmployee DiscountPaid Time OffReferral Program