Category Manager

Transcat, Inc.•Vista, CA

13d•$95,000 - $105,000•Onsite

About The Position

The purpose of this Category Manager position is to manage a fleet of electronic equipment within defined product categories. The objective is to invest into growth with plenty of capital while managing profitability at the category level. The position works with sales people and other product managers to identify and invest in opportunities for growth, as well as to identify and divest from underperforming assets and categories. It’s a fast-paced role which requires excellent analytical skills.

Requirements

Deep understanding of the financials of equipment rentals. This includes understanding measures of rental equipment profitability and understanding of life cycles of rental equipment.
Knowledge of products carried is helpful.
Understanding of good sales practices.
Self-starter, can-do attitude is crucial. This position acts as a leader and business manager for the relevant categories of the rental pool while working in collaboration with other product team members to improve profitability, KPIs and processes.
The ability to quickly learn several complex computer systems is crucial.
Analytical skills. The ability to look at data and ask questions of it, and to make data-driven decisions.
The ability to collect data from different systems and construct relevant analyses and takeaways.
The ability to systematically reduce cognitive biases.
Excellent oral and written skills needed to communicate with other team members and executive team.
Ability to successfully multi-task and manage concurrent situations including, but not restricted to presentations, sales support and investment tasks.
Bachelor's degree in business or a related field
5+ years of successful experience in rental industry

Nice To Haves

Experience in a related industry (e.g., test equipment, distribution, calibration)
Experience with strategic sourcing
Leadership experience

Responsibilities

Purchases rental assets and approves them for sale based on defined financial metrics like yield and utilization for assigned categories.
Adjusts rental and sales prices based on demand and win rates across the category portfolio.
Advises sales personnel on how to frame rental and sales opportunities for maximum success.
Helps sales personnel with understanding of similar equipment to that requested based on what is in stock and currently available.
Maintains accurate and up-to date levels of spending on new assets, sales of prior assets and profitability of the relevant category sections of the rental pool.
Communicates and works closely with the Management Team.
Attends relevant trade conferences to find and suggest new categories and models to invest in.
Collaborates with manufacturers / brands to deepen relationships and grow their rental markets within assigned categories.
Helps set equipment performance goals and metrics to make investment/divestment decisions across the rental pool.
Trades equipment with resellers as appropriate, based on active opportunities or when a good deal is found.