Assistant Category Manager

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist in managing supplier relationships within the assigned categories to drive supplier performance, contract effectiveness, collaboration, and deliver improved results.
• Assist in category strategy development, including national and private label brand approaches.
• Support supplier performance using agreed metrics and tools, along with periodic supplier review meetings where performance is measured with agreed follow-up and action plans.
• Aid in price improvement by helping CM in negotiating supplier cost reductions. Review sourcing history and supplier capabilities to align parts with qualified, competitive manufacturers.
• Review historical and competitive costs to identify cost savings opportunities and variances.
• Bring industry benchmarks, expertise, knowledge of trends, and other third-party data to prepare for vendor selection and negotiation.
• Assist in product lifecycle management and SKU/supplier rationalization.
• Proactively drives initiatives to meet category and purchasing objectives.
• All other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• Coursework in inventory management, logistics, and procurement.
• In lieu of a bachelor's degree, 2-3 years of relevant work experience in category management, merchandising, or supply chain roles.

• Familiarity with inventory management software, product information programs, and ERP systems.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Experience in managing vendor relationships.
• Knowledge of market trends and demand forecasting.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with ERP systems such as:
• SAP
• Oracle ERP
• Microsoft Dynamics 365
• NetSuite
• SYSPRO
• Infor ERP

• Certification in supply chain management or procurement (e.g., APICS, CPSM) is a plus.