Category Manager - Tools & Operations

Vallen Distribution Inc.•Belmont, NC

About The Position

The Category Manager is responsible for managing and executing category strategies across assigned product categories to support profitable growth, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. This role partners closely with Sales, Integrated Site Leadership, IT, Sourcing, and Supply Chain to optimize assortment, pricing, and supplier performance while ensuring category plans align with customer needs and enterprise objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Marketing, or related field
3–5 years of experience in category management, sourcing, merchandising, or product management, preferably within industrial distribution or B2B environments
Solid analytical and financial skills with experience evaluating sales, margin, and inventory performance
Ability to execute category plans and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
Understanding of market dynamics, customer needs, and competitive positioning
Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively across functions
Effective communication and supplier relationship management skills
Experience working with ERP systems and data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Tableau)

Responsibilities

Assortment Management: Manage core and extended product assortments based on customer demand, sales performance, and supplier capabilities with a strong focus on customer needs.
Category Planning & Execution: Support the development and execution of category plans, including assortment changes, supplier negotiations and value positioning.
Supplier Management: Manage supplier relationships, including performance reviews, cost initiatives, and ongoing collaboration to support category strategies.
Analytics & Reporting: Analyze sales, margin, and inventory data to monitor category performance, identify trends, and support data-driven decisions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with Sales, Sourcing, Marketing, and Operations to execute category initiatives and ensure alignment with business goals.
Market & Product Insights: Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and product opportunities; support new product introductions and lifecycle management.
Financial Performance Support: Support category-level margin, inventory, and working capital objectives through pricing actions, cost initiatives, and supplier programs.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance for Single, Employee + Spouse or Children, and Family Coverage
401(k) with discretionary company match of $0.50 on the $1.00 up to 6% of pay (U.S. positions only)
Employer-paid Basic Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Dependents
Employer-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Benefits and Parental Leave (and any leave required under federal, state, and local laws)
Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick Days): 80–160 hours of vacation time based on seniority, accrued monthly and prorated from date of hire. 40–56 hours of sick time per year based on seniority and advanced upon hire.
Paid Time Off (Holidays): 8 scheduled holidays plus 2 floating holidays
Employee Assistance Program
Employee Resource Groups for networking and team building
Tuition Reimbursement Program
Employee Referral Program
Safety shoe and safety glasses reimbursement (based on position)
Employee discounts through BenefitHub
Advancement opportunities