Category Manager

Walgreens•Deerfield, IL

1d•$100,000 - $175,000

About The Position

The Category Manager is responsible for managing revenue and overall profit and loss (P&L). The role manages ongoing business through insight-led decision-making, assortment optimization, category marketing, visual merchandising, and vendor management to optimize return on invested capital (ROIC). The manager plans and oversees sales, gross-profit, inventory-control, and merchandise-turnover objectives for assigned departments and items; develops merchandising and sales programs; negotiates buying contracts; and manages vendor relationships and category performance. The position also translates marketing and consumer insights into assortment decisions, supports promotional planning, and mentors team members.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least 4 years of experience in two or more of retail, procurement/purchasing, merchandising, vendor relations, pharmacy operations, or retail marketing; alternatively, a high school diploma/GED and at least 7 years of experience in two or more of those categories.
At least 2 years of experience working with P&L concepts, including revenue, COGS, gross-profit margin, operating expense, and income.
Knowledge of customer-centric retailing principles and analytics of customer purchase behavior.
At least 4 years of experience developing strategic programs in merchandising, vendor relations, and marketing in the retail business.
Knowledge of retail financial concepts, including penny-profit market, mark-up percent, turns, and ROI.
Experience collaborating on analysis for market-potential evaluation, pricing, and promotions.
Knowledge of marketing and promotional strategies and methods.
At least 2 years of experience contributing to financial decisions in the workplace.
At least 2 years of direct leadership, indirect leadership, and/or cross-functional team leadership.
Willingness to travel up to 10% of the time for business purposes, within and outside the state.

Nice To Haves

Project management experience.
At least 2 years of experience negotiating deals.

Responsibilities

Plan, develop, and be accountable for sales, gross-profit, inventory-control, and merchandise-turnover objectives for assigned departments and items.
Develop and determine merchandising, display, advertising, distribution, packaging, and sales plans and programs for assigned items and merchandise departments.
Negotiate buying contracts to obtain advantageous pricing, and manage day-to-day vendor relationships and growth opportunities.
Use market, competitive, and customer-perception analyses to set and adjust item price levels.
Manage category performance by establishing goals and building financial models to predict ROIC.
Create and defend planogram category strategies and decisions using analytics; delegate analytical tasks to support functions and synthesize results.
Provide the Divisional Merchandise Manager with business cases for promotions and ROTO spots, including productivity forecasts and product-performance sensitivity analyses.
Translate marketing and consumer insights into assortment merchandising decisions, and lead weekly category meetings with merchant support to manage performance.
Maintain understanding of Walgreens and WBA private brands, including assortment, projected sales forecasts, gross-profit levels, and merchandising and promotional programs.
Work with the Divisional Merchandise Manager to project sales forecasts and gross-profit levels in assigned categories.
Cultivate team morale, motivation, and loyalty through training and mentorship; set obtainable performance goals and provide clear communication and constructive feedback.