Category Manager - Automotive

Fleet Farm•Appleton, WI

22d•Hybrid

About The Position

Drive the future of automotive retail: Are you a strategic, data-driven merchant with a passion for the automotive industry? Join a fast-growing, customer-focused retailer that blends tradition with innovation. We’re seeking a Category Manager – Automotive Parts & Accessories to take ownership of high-performing product categories, shaping everything from assortment strategy to pricing, vendor negotiations, and merchandising. As a Category Manager, you'll be the engine behind our category growth — using data and market trends to build competitive, customer-centric assortments that maximize sales and profitability across our stores and online platforms.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
3–5+ years in retail merchandising, category management, or product management — ideally in automotive or hardlines retail
Strong understanding of retail P&L concepts (revenue, margin, turnover, etc.)
Experience negotiating supplier contracts and managing vendor relationships
Excellent analytical skills — comfortable working with Excel, data dashboards, and category performance reports
Familiarity with planogramming, promotional planning, and eCommerce retail strategy
Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment

Responsibilities

Develop and execute long-term category plans that drive revenue, margin, and market share across automotive parts, accessories, and tools.
Analyze customer behavior, market trends, and category performance to make informed recommendations on pricing, promotions, and assortment.
Build compelling product assortments across private label and national brands. Partner with visual merchandising and planogram teams to bring strategies to life in-store and online.
Negotiate contracts and maintain strong supplier relationships to secure competitive costs, reliable inventory, and exclusive offerings.
Collaborate with inventory planning to ensure accurate demand forecasting and timely product availability, especially for seasonal and promotional cycles.
Work across merchandising, marketing, supply chain, and store operations teams to deliver seamless category execution and performance.
Stay attuned to consumer preferences and industry trends to ensure we’re delivering what automotive enthusiasts and DIYers want most.