Category Management Specialist - Insight Global : Job Details

About the Job:

We have a great opportunity for an Assistant Category Manager, Fragrance. In this important role, you'll be responsible for attaining budgeted sales, contribution margin, inventory turns, and building market share within the category. This position will support promotional strategy, display opportunities and planogram development and execution. The ACM will work under the guidance of Senior CM and report directly to Senior CM. The candidate will help guide the category specialists consistent with the business strategies and will work closely with cross functional partners. Additionally, the role will lead special projects intricate to the growth of the Fragrance business and will help develop annual category business plans for 1, 3 and 5 years out as well was category strategic plans for weekly, seasonal and annual merchandising programs and maintain competitive analysis, including competitive digital and store analysis and market visits.

*Pay for this position ranges from $35-47/hr depending on various factors such as relevant experience*

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a full Vendor portfolio and collaborating and negotiating with the supplier partners to build our strong sales and margin driving plans.
• Support the development of the business cases and execution plans for key strategic initiatives, rooted in deep insights on the consumer, product, and competitive trends.
• Develop and implement category plans (i.e., plan optimal SKU mix; Extra Care loyalty program; weekly, seasonal, annual promotional programs) for merchandising programs from 1 to 3 years that reflect deep personal knowledge of our businesses, customers, and clients.
• Managing assortment across store and digital channels
• Build and nurture strong vendor relationships to collaborate on launches, effective promotional offers, events, and off shelf opportunities.
• Analyze relevant data and incorporate findings and recommendations into category strategies (i.e. optimal SKU mix; Extracare loyalty program; promotional planning) .
• Drive tactical execution of day-to-day plan activities (i.e. item setup, markdowns, writeoffs).
• Become an expert in all internal tools and reporting databases
• Contribute to planogram reset process (strategy and execution)
• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of current competition. Search out new competitive opportunities and make recommendations.
• Execute marketing plans for weekly, seasonal and annual marketing programs
• Always looking for new white space opportunities.
• Track effectiveness of promotional plans, continually adjust plans as the business changes to ensure accurate forecasting.

Core Competencies

• Analytical Prowess: leverage analytics to assess business performance, identify trends, and provide actionable insights.
• Data Driven Decision Making. Define, track, and optimize KPIs to evaluate the success of initiatives and drive continuous improvement.
• Story Telling with Data: translate findings into clear, impactful reports and presentation to influence stakeholders.
• Thinks and Acts Strategically. Anticipates business opportunities and challenges.
• Drives speed and innovation. Challenges self and the organization to seek and promote cutting edge solutions, create new opportunities, and be the market-maker.
• Manages and develops self. Seeks opportunities, guidance and feedback to develop own knowledge, skills and capability.
• Values and promotes collaboration.
• Contributes to high-performing teams. Works together in a committed way to achieve a common mission.
• Impacts and Influences Others. Skillfully persuades others to support important initiatives, gain alignment with our strategy and goals, and act in the best interests of the company.

Required Qualifications

• 3 + years of experience in a retail organization or in an analytical, merchandising, or buying position.
• 3 + years of experience developing and executing plans, review data, consumer insights and identify business opportunities to deliver expected financial and share results.
• 3 + years of experience collaborating with cross functional team members, internally and with suppliers.
• 3 + years of experience developing cohesive category strategies to deliver on both short-term and long term goals and adapts change based on consumer/market dynamics.
• Must be willing to travel at least 5-10%

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• Previous retail experience strongly preferred
• Excellent technical skills: knowledge of spreadsheet and database software
• Excellent presentation skills
• GMROI analysis experience a plus
• Experience or working knowledge of IRI or Nielsen market data
• Familiarity with Access or other data base knowledge and planogram tools
• MS Office, Word, Excel PowerPoint

Education

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience