Product Category Manager

About The Kendall Group

The Kendall Group is comprised of eight divisions with 75 locations in ten states. Combined, we serve the Electrical, Automation, Pipe, Valve, and Fitting products, Steam, Lighting, Industrial Controls, and Instrumentation Industries. The Kendall Group is a 100% employee-owned company. Kendall offers a great opportunity for a rewarding career.

Why The Kendall Group?

Our employee ownership model is the core of who we are. You will not only own part of the company, but you will own your future. At Kendall, you'll have opportunities to learn and grow while being coached and mentored along the way. We're that company where people stay! We're proud to say more than 60% of our associates have more than 5 years of tenure, and more than 40% have greater than 10 years. At Kendall, you will be valued and supported, your ideas will be heard, your voice will matter, and you'll work alongside incredible people who care about your success.

Role Summary: Reporting to the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships the Product Category Manager plays a critical role in building and sustaining strategic vendor partnerships. This position focuses on developing and maintaining strong supplier relationships, negotiating favorable contracts, and analyzing supplier performance to align with organizational goals. By leveraging market insights and collaboration with vendors, the Product Category Manager drives category growth through optimized assortments, pricing strategies, and promotional initiatives. The role also involves monitoring supplier compliance, mitigating risks, and fostering continuous improvement to enhance value, reduce costs, and secure long-term partnerships. Through effective vendor engagement and cross-functional collaboration, this position ensures consistent product availability and supports overall business success.

Exciting Work You Will Do

The essential duties and responsibilities of the Product Category Manager will consist of, but are not limited to, the following:

• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier performance to ensure optimal pricing, quality, and availability of products
• Develop and implement category strategies aligned with overall business objectives, considering market trends, customer needs, and competitive landscape
• Determine the assortment of products within each category, considering customer preferences, sales data, and profitability
• Collaborate with Purchasing to review inventory levels, forecasts, and demand patterns to optimize stock levels and minimize out-of-stock situations while managing inventory turnover
• Collaborate with marketing and sales teams to develop promotional strategies, pricing structures, and promotional campaigns to drive sales and achieve margin targets
• : Conduct market research, analyze sales data, and monitor industry trends to identify opportunities for growth and improvement within assigned categories
• Work closely with sales, marketing, and operations teams to align category strategies with overall business goals and ensure effective implementation
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sales performance, margin contribution, and inventory turnover to evaluate category performance and make data-driven decisions
• Regularly review and optimize category performance through data analysis, consumer insights, and feedback to enhance product offerings and customer satisfaction
• Identify and mitigate risks related to supplier relationships, market changes, and competitive pressures to ensure continuity of supply and profitability
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Competencies You Possess

• Service Excellence
• Results and Action Oriented
• Accountability and Responsibility
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Problem Solving
• Strategic Ability
• Negotiating
• Self-motivation
  
  

What You’ll Need

• Work Experience: 5 years of experience in category management, procurement, sales or merchandising within the electrical industry
• Education: High school diploma or GED
• Analytics/Computer Skills: Experience working with Microsoft Office products, especially Excel; strong analytical skills; ability to interpret sales data and market trends
• Organization Skills: Excellent negotiation and supplier relationship management skills
• Cross-functional skills: Self-motivated; ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
• Communication Skills: Strong communication and presentation skills
• Physical, Mental and Visual Skills: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential functions. 
• Ability to see, talk and hear
• Ability to sit for 8 hours a day 
• Physical Environment: Normal office environment ; warehouse, fabrication environment and exposure to moving equipment
• Travel: up to 30% of the time
  

Qualifications We Prefer But Don’t Require

• Work Experience: 10 years of experience in category management, procurement, sales or merchandising within the electrical industry; experience using ERP systems or data analytics tools
• Analytics/Computer Skills: proficiency in inventory management and demand forecasting
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing or supply chain management
  
  

The Kendall Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, military status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.