Associate Category Manager

Genuine Parts Company•Wildwood, MO

About The Position

The Associate Category Manager supports the Category Manager in driving growth and profitability for a specific category or group of categories while balancing financial, operational, and customer outcomes. The role supports day-to-day category operations, promotion planning, supplier administration, new line and supplier setup, sourcing projects, digital channel opportunities, and regular performance reporting. Performance is measured through contribution to category sales and gross profit targets, sales out, inventory turnover, and GMROI; adherence to timelines and processes for promotions, planograms, line reviews, and procurement or sourcing; and timely responses to stakeholder queries. The position is performed in typical office and retail store environments. Travel to various operations is required and estimated at approximately 40–50% of the time. Retail store environments may involve exposure to noise, dust, fumes, or temperature shifts. The work is sedentary and primarily involves sitting or standing, with occasional movement of objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

Requirements

1–2 years of category leadership experience desired in a fast-paced organization, ideally a multi-site distribution or retail business.
Strong administrative and time-management abilities.
Demonstrated commercial acumen, strategic thinking and planning, customer orientation, relationship building, communication, influencing, collaboration, decision-making, and analytical thinking.
Demonstrate company values and lead by personal example.
Focus on GPC core competencies.
Ability to travel to various operations, estimated at approximately 40–50% of the time.
Ability to move objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Tertiary qualifications in business or a related discipline are preferred.
Category leadership experience in a multi-site distribution or retail business is preferred.

Responsibilities

Facilitate the promotions process across publications and channels for assigned categories, meeting key timelines and process milestones.
Work with suppliers to ensure compliance with expectations associated with promotions.
Administer supplier income, including timely and accurate billing and reporting.
Manage setup of new product lines and suppliers, ensuring information is captured accurately and in line with process milestones.
Work with the planogram team to develop customer-facing planograms where applicable.
Work cross-functionally with stakeholders and ensure category-related queries are routed and answered in a timely manner.
Support the Category Manager in day-to-day operational aspects of category assignments.
Maximize opportunities in B2C and B2B digital channels.
Administer annual retail and wholesale promotional plans.
Manage administration associated with Agreement Sheets, ensuring information is captured accurately and on time.
Facilitate outcomes with the sourcing team on key category sourcing projects, meeting timelines and process steps.
Regularly report on category performance.
Support the Category Manager in achieving category financial, operational, and customer performance measures.