Category Manager - Travel Plaza

Onvo•Scranton, PA

About The Position

Onvo is seeking a strategic, results-driven Category Manager to lead merchandising initiatives across its travel plazas. The role develops and executes category strategies, optimizes assortment and pricing, manages vendor relationships, and drives profitable growth across assigned product categories. It uses data-driven insights to improve the customer experience and maximize category performance. The Category Manager oversees product assortment, item selection, planograms, product lifecycle decisions, pricing, promotions, and vendor performance. The role works closely with store operations and cross-functional teams, conducts regular store visits, and analyzes sales, profitability, inventory, and performance metrics. It also prepares business reviews and category reports and serves as the subject matter expert for assigned categories and market trends. The position requires regular travel to store locations and industry events, approximately 30–40%.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in retail merchandising, category management, convenience retail, travel plazas, grocery, or related industries.
Proven success developing and managing merchandise categories that drive sales and profitability.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret sales and inventory data and make strategic recommendations.
Excellent negotiation, vendor management, and relationship-building skills.
Strong communication and presentation abilities.
Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
Ability to travel regularly to store locations and industry events, approximately 30–40%.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and retail reporting systems.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Retail Management, Marketing, or a related field.
Experience in convenience retail, travel centers, fuel retail, grocery, or food service environments.
Familiarity with NetSuite and retail management systems.
Knowledge of category management principles, planogram development, and merchandising best practices.
Understanding of state alcohol regulations and category-specific compliance requirements.
Experience with retail software platforms such as JDA, Gilbarco Passport, PDI, or similar systems.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute category strategies that support sales, margin, and growth objectives.
Manage product assortment, item selection, planograms, product lifecycle decisions, and category optimization.
Ensure products are available at the right price, in the right locations, and at the right time.
Analyze sales trends, customer purchasing behavior, and market conditions to identify growth opportunities.
Establish pricing strategies and margin targets, conduct competitive price surveys, and recommend pricing actions.
Build and maintain relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors.
Negotiate product costs, rebates, promotional funding, marketing support, delivery schedules, and service agreements.
Monitor vendor performance and identify new products, emerging trends, and strategic vendor opportunities.
Plan and execute category promotions, partnering with Marketing and Operations on execution.
Communicate promotional plans, product launches, and merchandising initiatives across the organization.
Evaluate promotional performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
Work with store operations to ensure consistent execution of merchandising programs.
Conduct regular store visits to assess category performance, merchandising standards, pricing accuracy, and customer experience.
Support training on product knowledge, merchandising programs, and category objectives.
Collaborate with Operations, Marketing, Pricebook, Finance, and Leadership.
Analyze sales, profitability, inventory, and category performance metrics; prepare and present business reviews and reports.
Use data to identify trends, opportunities, risks, and recommendations, and serve as the subject matter expert for assigned categories and market trends.