Job Title: Manager, Category Management
Job Level: Management Level 2 (M2)
Purpose of the Role
The Manager, Category Management plays a pivotal role in defining and executing the strategic direction of our client’s product portfolio. This role is responsible for optimizing category performance, strengthening supplier partnerships, and ensuring alignment across Sales, Marketing, Buying, and senior leadership. By combining strategic thinking with operational execution, the Manager supports business growth, profitability, and customer value—while empowering their team through mentorship, process clarity, and professional development.
Key Responsibilities & Success Criteria
1. Strategy & Collaboration (30%)
Responsibilities:
- Develop, communicate, and implement category strategies aligned with business objectives.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Buying, and Finance to support cohesive promotional and category expansion plans.
- Align category strategies with fiscal goals and evolving market conditions.
- Maintain a clear understanding of market trends, competitor activity, and consumer insights.
- Translate company goals into actionable team priorities with defined performance measures.
Success Criteria:
- Category strategies demonstrably contribute to company performance.
- Teams report clarity in strategic direction and role alignment.
- Cross-functional collaboration drives sales growth, customer satisfaction, and cost efficiency.
- Strategic plans adapt effectively to changing market dynamics.
2. Process & Delivery (30%)
Responsibilities:
- Strengthen our client’s status as a preferred partner by building strategic supplier relationships.
- Lead high-value contract negotiations to secure favorable pricing and terms.
- Oversee supplier and category performance to meet product, logistics, and commercial standards.
- Analyze data to drive category decisions and resolve team and process inefficiencies.
- Champion process improvements and foster a culture of feedback and innovation.
- Ensure category compliance with regulatory, safety, and quality standards.
- Maintain accountability for cost savings, portfolio profitability, and execution excellence.
Success Criteria:
- Suppliers meet compliance standards; key contracts are executed on time and with mutual benefit.
- KPIs such as sales, margin, and inventory turnover are tracked and improved.
- Clear communication and project workflows enable on-time, high-quality delivery.
- Budget targets are met or exceeded; legal and compliance risks are proactively mitigated.
- Training and tools are consistently available to support performance.
3. People Leadership (40%)
Performance & Career Development
Responsibilities:
- Build trusted relationships with direct reports through regular 1:1s, coaching, and honest feedback.
- Understand workloads and remove roadblocks while advocating for appropriate resourcing.
- Support team members’ career goals through coaching and identifying growth opportunities.
- Empower team members to take ownership of their work and contribute high-quality outcomes.
- Conduct timely, action-oriented performance evaluations and support both top performers and those needing development.
Success Criteria:
- Team members feel empowered, supported, and aligned with their development plans.
- High-quality output is achieved within deadlines and resourcing constraints.
- Feedback is constructive and leads to measurable improvement and retention.
- Performance conversations drive engagement and reduce regrettable turnover.
People Management
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate on recruitment and staffing strategies; lead candidate selection and onboarding.
- Recommend promotions and manage transitions, including terminations when necessary.
- Plan and manage team scheduling, vacation, and on-call responsibilities.
- Deliver structured onboarding and training programs for new hires and internal transfers.
Success Criteria:
- New hires successfully complete onboarding and demonstrate strong post-probation performance.
- Promotions reflect objective performance evaluations.
- Hiring decisions meet team capacity needs and ensure even workload distribution.
- Leadership feedback on people-related decisions is positive and timely.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or a related field.
- 4–7 years of experience in category management (preferably in food, beverage, or personal care).
- 1+ years in a people leadership role (e.g. team lead or manager).
- Strong analytical and interpersonal skills.
- Proven success in launching new products and managing category profitability.
- Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams and foster collaboration.
- Expertise in commercial negotiation and supplier relationship management.
To apply, please submit your resume to this posting or email Alexandra.Bunardzic@summitsearchgroup.com. Only qualified individuals will be contacted.
Summit Search Group is a fair and equitable search firm. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Accommodations are available upon request for the recruitment and selection process.
Alexandra Bunardzic
Job ID
City
- Burnaby, BC
Alexandra Bunardzic
Job ID
City
- Burnaby, BC
