Procurement Career Paths

Job Title: Lead Category Manager

Location: [Insert location]

Reports to: [Insert name and title of supervisor]

The lead category manager is responsible for overall category performance. They develop innovative strategies and collaborate with various teams to improve product categories and meet business goals.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Data analysis and identification of industry and consumer trends.
• Create and develop long-term strategies for product category growth.
• Create and implement exit strategies for underperforming products.
• Build positive and long-lasting relationships with suppliers or vendors for better service quality for lower pricing.
• Keep track of inventory and replenish stocks when necessary.
• Position product categories to maximize visibility and sales.
• Collaborate and coordinate with marketing teams to establish competitive pricing and promotional activities.
• Collaborate and coordinate with suppliers and customers to expand product categories.
• Forecast product demand to ensure inventory sustainability and efficiency.
• Manage budgets and revenue targets for the category.

KPIs for this role

• Category Turnover: The amount of money earned from category sales over a specific time.
• Profit by Category: The gross profit generated by each category.
• Margin: Gross margin for each category.
• GMROI (Gross Margin Return on Inventory Investment): Return on investment when it comes to inventory and how it’s managed.
• Inventory Turnover: How many times inventory is sold and replaced within a certain time.
• Product Availability: Percentage of times that a product is in stock and available for customers.
• New Product Introductions: Successful introduction of new products within a category.
• Customer Satisfaction: Percentage of time when customer needs and expectations are met.
• Category Growth: The growth of each category through identifying opportunities for strategic investment.

Key Skills and Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
• May require Certified Professional Category Manager (CPCM) certification.
• Proven experience as a category manager or similar role for at least 3-6 years.
• Good working knowledge of category management, marketing, and sales principles
• Knowledgeable of data analysis and forecasting methods.
• Proficient in MS Office software and capable of learning new software if needed.
• Analytical and strategic when making decisions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and exceptional people skills.

• Data analysis and identification of industry and consumer trends.
• Create and develop long-term strategies for product category growth.
• Create and implement exit strategies for underperforming products.
• Build positive and long-lasting relationships with suppliers or vendors for better service quality for lower pricing.
• Keep track of inventory and replenish stocks when necessary.
• Position product categories to maximize visibility and sales.
• Collaborate and coordinate with marketing teams to establish competitive pricing and promotional activities.
• Collaborate and coordinate with suppliers and customers to expand product categories.
• Forecast product demand to ensure inventory sustainability and efficiency.
• Manage budgets and revenue targets for the category.

• Communication: Can convey information clearly and effectively.
• Analytical: Excellent data analysis for informed decision-making.
• Interpersonal skills: Ability to interact effectively with others and develop [positive and long-lasting relationships.
• Leadership: Capacity to guide and motivate a group of people to attain a common goal.
• Negotiation: Skill in reaching agreements that give benefits and advantages to the organization while being cost-efficient.
• Strategy: Ability to develop and implement effective plans to meet company goals.
• Supplier management: Management of relationships with suppliers and keeping track of supplier quality.
• Business acumen: Understanding of business principles and practices that keep category management efficient and effective.
• Problem-solving: Ability to identify issues and develop solutions, especially in a high-pressure environment.
• Project management: Skill in planning, organizing, and overseeing various projects and completing them on time.

• Category Turnover: The amount of money earned from category sales over a specific time.
• Profit by Category: The gross profit generated by each category.
• Margin: Gross margin for each category.
• GMROI (Gross Margin Return on Inventory Investment): Return on investment when it comes to inventory and how it’s managed.
• Inventory Turnover: How many times inventory is sold and replaced within a certain time.
• Product Availability: Percentage of times that a product is in stock and available for customers.
• New Product Introductions: Successful introduction of new products within a category.
• Customer Satisfaction: Percentage of time when customer needs and expectations are met.
• Category Growth: The growth of each category through identifying opportunities for strategic investment.