Sr. Manager of Category Management - Specialty

Patterson Dental Supply•St Paul, MN

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Patterson is a partner that cares about your success, fostering a people-first, always advancing, and results-driven culture with abundant professional growth. We value diverse talents and experiences to build a stronger organization. The Senior Manager of Category Management is accountable to manage the execution and operating plans aligned to end-to-end category strategies across assortment, pricing, promotions, procurement, and supplier partnerships to grow sales, margin, and share. This position is responsible for data-driven reviews of syndicated and internal data, customer insights, and competitive intelligence to shape the category roadmap. In addition, this role collaborates cross-functionally to deliver measurable business outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or related field or equivalent education and/or experience
8 years category management, sourcing, or procurement experience
3 years of leadership or people management experience
Proven experience of category trends, regulatory considerations, and supply chain dynamics
Solid understanding of market dynamics, consumer behavior, competitive landscape, and supply chain considerations
Advanced analytical and financial acumen; ability to interpret and translate complex data into concise recommendations
Strong business acumen, sourcing and negotiation skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to effectively influence and deliver concise information to internal and external stakeholders
Strong project and change leadership skills; ability to prioritize initiatives, manage dependencies, and lead process improvements
Experience building organizational capacity and developing team capabilities and skills

Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of category strategies, operating plans and roadmaps, including assortment planning, pricing, promotions, and omnichannel merchandising, to achieve revenue, margin, and market share growth targets
Oversee sourcing and commercial execution (RFIs/RFPs) and supplier management including risk analyses, competitive pricing, service levels, and adherence to supplier governance and procurement practices and align cross-functionally on pricing architectures and promotions that improve profitability
Manage the end-to-end product lifecycle; inform innovation and product introduction, monitor adoption, and lead rationalization decisions ensuring alignment to customer demand and business goals
Manage category performance management through KPIs, scorecards, business reviews and analytics, translating insights into actionable plans that improve sales, profitability, and operational efficiency
Drive data-informed decision-making by synthesizing internal and syndicated data, customer insights, and market trends to identify growth opportunities and inform category plans
Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance and vendor partners to align category strategies with broader business objectives and ensure effective execution
Establish and enhance category management processes, tools, and best practices, championing continuous improvement and scalability across the function
Build organizational capacity by strengthening team capabilities, enabling effective use of skills, supporting recruiting and onboarding, and improving processes, tools, or workflows to enhance performance and achieve organizational objectives
Comply with Company and department policies and standards; performs other duties as assigned
Accountable for team staffing and managing direct reports to include development, performance management, goal setting, and other managerial duties
Ensures direct reports are aware of and follow ethical business practices and Company’s Code of Conduct to maintain a supportive and productive working environment.