Position Summary

The Category Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of products, programs, promotions, selected pricing as well as the implementation of corporate programs within all product category areas to achieve corporate goals, in all store locations. You will be responsible for specific assigned departments.

Key Responsibilities

• Manages assigned local stores-for localitems all departments.
• Manages assigned departments globally.
• Aggressively drive sales while meeting company goals on Gross Margin, Inventory Turnover, and Bottom Line (pre-tax) Profit in specified stores.
• Execute and focus on all job activities:
• Purchasing:
• Maintain a high level of regional product awareness including identifying new regional products, trends and competitive strategies through trade publications, store requests and competitor visits.
• Drive in store discovery execution including correct linear sets, mapping, POG integrity. Responsible for ad goods and Promotional goods.
• Ensure in-stock position for ad goods. Help marketing choose and promote your department goods and items ensuring correct sku numbers, descriptions, pricing, and load-in inventory is executed on time to meet print and digital timelines.
• Supplier Negotiations—constantly and aggressively negotiates with vendors on pricing, expanding the inventory catalog, and developing competitive strategies, all while trying to reduce acquisition and transportation costs, gain additional co-op and increase margins with in the agreed corporate strategic direction
• Alternate Supplier Income—constantly and aggressively negotiates and collects all marketing discretionary supplier funds, including but not limited to co-op, new items discounts, free merchandise, free displays, extended dating terms, rebates based on purchases and selling marketing packages at our annual vendor summit.
• Ensures seasonal planogram integrity based on corporate approved planograms both internally and Ace created POGs. Ensures planogram integrity on all Discovery Planograms. Reviews all L2 and L3 POGs order points and sku maintenance as well as correct store mapping and location codes by store.
• Data Analysis: Analyze historic data to determine which products should be purchased, as well as suggesting new products to try in assigned regional stores. All promotions should be purchased with an exit plan or home identified for the promotion.
• Create buy plan for department promo items or resets and track sales data so next season a record exists- use to place buys next season. Always have an exit plan/strategy for promo items. Includes clear merchandising execution that changes with the season.

o Marketing: Works closely with the marketing department to help in the selection of products. Also, responsible for the Monthly Marketing planner, in and out seasonal dates, coordinates seasonal buys. Works with Marketing to ensure marketing plan matches to seasonality of region.

• Office Communication— Develops strong relationships with entire Category Team, Operations Team and warehouse teams, as well as ensure completion of all regional bulletins, regional specific special buys, liquidation plans for regional E&O as well as execution of all Corporate supported product planograms.
• Inventory Productivity Monthly: Ensures new products are evaluated on a regular basis and creating an exit strategy if they are not profitable.
• Product Knowledge: Researches, analyzes, and draws conclusions from customer, co-op and vendor data to define the merchandise selection process.
• Outside Office Activities to include but not limited to trade shows, regular store visits, walk competition, supplier meetings, all grand openings, vendor summit, and critical customer events.
• Category Execution: Works in conjunction with operations to ensure merchandise, plan-o-grams and adjacencies mesh with store capabilities.
• New Stores—Develop and schedule all suppliers that will be involved for events and demo’s. Work with Category management and marketing team to advertising item selection and planning: Grand Opening.

Other Responsibilities

· This position will require a high degree of initiative and will at many times be left to execute the responsibilities of the job with little to no supervision.

· Attend trade shows and Vendor Summits as required

· Visit Costello stores on a regular and scheduled basis to ensure planogram integrity

· Visit the competition on a regular basis

· Meetings with suppliers at our stores or at their offices

· Daily communications with Category Team

· Attend all Grand Openings and critical customer events

· Other duties as assigned by senior management

Job Requirements

· Education – B.A. or equivalent or 5 years’ retail hardware/product experience

· Strong written and verbal Communication skills

· Strong Leadership skills

· Strong organizational skills

· Strong Math skills

· Strong Reasoning skills

· Strong Problem-Solving skills

· Able to maintain their composure in all situations

· Ability to handle multiple projects at one time to stay on schedule with high attention to detail

· Strong at developing positive business relationships

· Ability to read and interrupt a retail financial document

· Proficient with Excel and all Microsoft programs

· Proficient and maintain strong knowledge of Epicor Eagle Browser system.

· Willingness and ability to learn and execute new technology

· Willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done (NOT a 40 hour a week job) this will include working a variation of mornings, days, evenings, and weekend shifts

· Entrepreneurial Spirit

· Travel requirements: Trade shows, events, and company stores on a frequent basis.

· Must have reliable transportation

· Ability to work in a fast-paced, demanding environment

· Must be flexible enough to hit critical/varied deadlines.

· Must be able to work and communicate cooperatively with others.

Reports to: Senior Director of Category Management

Costello’s offers competitive wages and benefits, including:

• Major Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance, Short Term Disability & Prescription Coverage for Eligible Employees
• Profit Share Bonus Plan Eligible
• Company Paid Life Insurance ($50,000 policy)
• 401 (k) plan with Company Contribution to Retirement Savings Plan with up to 4% match
• Flexible Spending Account “FSA”
• Dependent Care FSA
• Generous Vacation Time
• Personal Time
• 6 Paid Holidays
• Generous employee discount programs.

Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person