Senior Category Manager

Almo•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

SUMMARY: The Senior Manager, Category Management is responsible for leading the strategic direction, growth, and profitability of assigned product categories. This role oversees the full lifecycle of the category-ranging from strategy development and product assortment to supplier negotiations, merchandising, and pricing-while providing leadership to a team of category managers or specialists. The Senior Manager partners closely with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and E-Commerce leadership to ensure category performance aligns with company objectives, and serves as a key driver of innovation, vendor partnerships, and business growth. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Category Strategy & Leadership Develop, implement, and oversee category strategies in alignment with company vision and goals. Lead strategic planning initiatives, identifying opportunities for innovation, differentiation, and growth. Establish short- and long-term roadmaps and ensure execution through the category management team. Provide coaching and leadership to direct reports, fostering development and high performance. Product Portfolio Oversight Direct product portfolio strategy including introductions, rationalizations, and discontinuations. Ensure a balanced assortment that drives both sales and profitability. Guide product lifecycle management and oversee launch-to-retirement processes. Collaborate with Marketing and design resources on new product concepts and category positioning. Supplier & Vendor Management Build and maintain senior-level relationships with key suppliers and manufacturers. Lead negotiations for pricing, contracts, and terms to maximize profitability. Evaluate and enhance vendor performance metrics, ensuring alignment with company standards. Identify and onboard new suppliers to strengthen category depth and innovation. Financial & Performance Management Own category P&L, including sales, margin performance, and inventory efficiency. Establish financial forecasts, budgets, and reporting for executive leadership. Lead initiatives to drive profitability, cost savings, and process improvements. Cross-Functional & Executive Collaboration Partner with Sales leadership to drive category adoption, execution, and customer engagement. Collaborate with Marketing leadership on promotional campaigns and go-to-market strategies. Work closely with Supply Chain to optimize availability, fill rates, and inventory management. Align with E-Commerce leadership to build strong online assortment, pricing, and promotions. Present regular performance updates and strategic recommendations to senior leadership. Merchandising & Pricing Define and approve category pricing and promotional strategies. Oversee merchandising plans for both retail and digital channels, ensuring consistency and impact. Ensure product presentation maximizes brand image, customer engagement, and sales growth. Data, Insights & Innovation Lead the use of analytics and shopper insights to inform category strategy and execution. Conduct regular reviews of category performance, customer needs, and competitive positioning. Drive innovation through trend identification, new product development, and category adjacencies. Serve as a thought leader within the organization, identifying and capitalizing on white-space opportunities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field; MBA strongly preferred.
7-10 years of progressive experience in category management, merchandising, or product management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
Demonstrated success in owning and delivering category P&L results.
Proven ability to lead teams, develop talent, and influence across an organization.
Advanced negotiation and vendor management skills with experience building executive-level partnerships.
Strong analytical and financial acumen, including forecasting, budgeting, and data-driven decision making.
Excellent communication, presentation, and executive presence skills.
High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; experience with BI and analytics tools strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and oversee category strategies in alignment with company vision and goals.
Lead strategic planning initiatives, identifying opportunities for innovation, differentiation, and growth.
Establish short- and long-term roadmaps and ensure execution through the category management team.
Provide coaching and leadership to direct reports, fostering development and high performance.
Direct product portfolio strategy including introductions, rationalizations, and discontinuations.
Ensure a balanced assortment that drives both sales and profitability.
Guide product lifecycle management and oversee launch-to-retirement processes.
Collaborate with Marketing and design resources on new product concepts and category positioning.
Build and maintain senior-level relationships with key suppliers and manufacturers.
Lead negotiations for pricing, contracts, and terms to maximize profitability.
Evaluate and enhance vendor performance metrics, ensuring alignment with company standards.
Identify and onboard new suppliers to strengthen category depth and innovation.
Own category P&L, including sales, margin performance, and inventory efficiency.
Establish financial forecasts, budgets, and reporting for executive leadership.
Lead initiatives to drive profitability, cost savings, and process improvements.
Partner with Sales leadership to drive category adoption, execution, and customer engagement.
Collaborate with Marketing leadership on promotional campaigns and go-to-market strategies.
Work closely with Supply Chain to optimize availability, fill rates, and inventory management.
Align with E-Commerce leadership to build strong online assortment, pricing, and promotions.
Present regular performance updates and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
Define and approve category pricing and promotional strategies.
Oversee merchandising plans for both retail and digital channels, ensuring consistency and impact.
Ensure product presentation maximizes brand image, customer engagement, and sales growth.
Lead the use of analytics and shopper insights to inform category strategy and execution.
Conduct regular reviews of category performance, customer needs, and competitive positioning.
Drive innovation through trend identification, new product development, and category adjacencies.
Serve as a thought leader within the organization, identifying and capitalizing on white-space opportunities.