Senior Director of Category Management
About The Position
The Senior Director of Category Management leads enterprise category management strategy and the operating model, aligning commercial objectives, customer needs, sourcing strategies, supplier partnerships, and business priorities. The role is accountable for long-term category portfolio performance through leadership of category teams, enterprise standards and governance, and integration of category investments across business units to support growth, profitability, and competitive advantage. The position defines the enterprise category vision, portfolio strategy, and multi-year roadmap; directs portfolio reviews and investment planning; and oversees category analytics, customer insights, and performance measurement. It sponsors strategic supplier partnerships and executive business planning, while partnering with executive leaders across Sales, Marketing, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and Procurement. The role also builds organizational capability through leadership development, succession planning, talent development, budget oversight, and continuous improvement. The Senior Director is accountable for staffing and managing direct reports, including development, performance management, and goal setting, and for ensuring that team members follow ethical business practices and the Company’s Code of Conduct. The position operates primarily in a professional office environment and may require occasional travel of up to 10%.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Finance, or Supply Chain Management, or equivalent education and/or experience.
- 12 years of experience in category management, strategic sourcing, procurement, merchandising, or related disciplines.
- 6 years of leadership or people management experience.
- Expert knowledge of category management, portfolio strategy, strategic sourcing, supplier governance, and merchandising principles.
- Executive leadership capabilities for directing multiple levels of management and driving enterprise-wide organizational outcomes.
- Strategic business acumen balancing growth, profitability, customer value, supply continuity, and competitive positioning.
- Advanced financial and analytical expertise to evaluate portfolio performance, investment opportunities, market trends, and business risks.
- Executive influencing and stakeholder management capabilities, with success leading through collaboration and organizational alignment.
- Organizational development expertise focused on leadership capability, succession pipelines, and high-performing teams.
- Change leadership experience driving enterprise transformation, process improvement, and operating model evolution.
- Strong communication and presentation capabilities for engaging executive leadership, suppliers, business partners, and external stakeholders.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or Marketing, or equivalent education and/or experience.
- Executive-level experience leading category strategy across multiple business units, product portfolios, or market segments.
- Experience leveraging advanced analytics, customer insights, and market intelligence to drive enterprise decision-making.
- Experience overseeing large-scale supplier partnerships, strategic sourcing programs, and enterprise contract governance.
- Demonstrated success leading business transformation, organizational change, and category performance improvement initiatives.
Responsibilities
- Define the enterprise category management vision, portfolio strategy, and multi-year roadmap in alignment with organizational growth objectives, customer needs, supplier capabilities, and market opportunities.
- Lead category management leaders across multiple categories or business segments; establish priorities, governance, and performance expectations.
- Establish and evolve enterprise frameworks, policies, and operating standards for category strategy, assortment architecture, supplier management, sourcing practices, pricing governance, promotions, and lifecycle management.
- Direct enterprise portfolio reviews and category investment planning, balancing growth, margins, inventory efficiency, supply continuity, and customer value.
- Oversee advanced category analytics, customer insights, and performance measurement to inform strategic decisions, improve forecasting accuracy, and strengthen competitive positioning.
- Sponsor strategic supplier partnerships and executive-level business planning to drive innovation, improve supplier performance, reduce risk, and create long-term value.
- Partner with executive leadership across Sales, Marketing, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and Procurement to align category strategies, resource investments, and transformation initiatives with organizational objectives.
- Build organizational capability through leadership of directors and managers, succession planning, talent development, budget oversight, and continuous improvement.
- Manage team staffing and direct reports, including development, performance management, and goal setting.
- Ensure direct reports understand and follow ethical business practices and the Company’s Code of Conduct.
- Comply with Company and department policies and standards, and perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Full medical, dental, and vision benefits
- Integrated wellness program
- 401(k) match retirement savings plan
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Holiday pay and floating holidays
- Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
- Educational assistance program
- Full paid parental and adoption leave
- Employee Assistance Program
- Patterson Perks Program
- Competitive benefits, unique incentive programs, and rewards for eligible employees
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
