Director, Category Management

McKesson•Irving, TX

18h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Irving, TX-based Director, Category Management leads category strategy and portfolio execution for assigned Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) categories across branded, Foster & Thrive, and private label / white label portfolios. This role is responsible for setting the long‑term category vision, translating enterprise goals into actionable roadmaps and operating plans, and driving profitable growth through assortment strategy, supplier performance, and end‑to‑end commercialization. Reporting into senior commercial leadership, this position partners closely with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, Sourcing, Legal, and Regulatory stakeholders to deliver measurable business outcomes. The Director also leads and develops a team of Category Managers, establishing strong execution standards, operating rhythms, and a high‑performance culture.

Requirements

Degree or equivalent experience.
Typically requires 12+ years of professional experience and 4+ years of management experience.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
12+ years of progressive experience in category management, product management, brand management, merchandising, procurement/sourcing, or commercial strategy.
4+ years of direct people‑management experience leading and developing professional teams.
Proven experience owning category strategy and leading complex cross‑functional initiatives with measurable business impact (e.g., growth, margin expansion, assortment optimization).
Demonstrated supplier leadership experience, including negotiation planning, performance management, and joint business planning.
Candidate must be authorized to work in the U.S, now or in the future, without the support from McKesson.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree.
Experience managing private label, white label, or owned‑brand portfolios.
Experience working in regulated or compliance‑sensitive environments (e.g., healthcare, OTC, regulated CPG).
Strong analytical capability, including advanced Excel and/or BI tools, with experience using data to inform assortment, pricing, and margin decisions.

Responsibilities

Own and evolve end‑to‑end category strategies across branded, owned‑brand, and private label portfolios, translating business objectives into category roadmaps, annual operating plans, and KPIs.
Define category vision, assortment architecture, and portfolio lifecycle plans (innovation, maintenance, and rationalization) informed by customer, channel, and market insights.
Lead supplier strategy and governance in partnership with Sourcing and Legal, including negotiation planning, joint business planning, and supplier performance scorecards focused on cost, quality, service, and innovation.
Drive end‑to‑end commercialization and go‑to‑market execution for new products and programs, including launch readiness, channel enablement, and post‑launch performance reviews.
Identify growth and white‑space opportunities; prioritize innovation pipelines and customer/channel strategies in collaboration with Sales and Marketing.
Influence cross‑functional decision‑making across Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and other stakeholders to remove barriers and accelerate execution.
Lead, coach, and develop a team of Category Managers; establish standard work, operating cadence, and continuous improvement practices to improve speed and decision quality.