Assistant Category Manager

Job Summary

Assists with buying and managing day-to-day flow of assigned category. Responsible for developing business while maintaining and building relationships with the supplier community and retail teams. Performs ongoing market analysis of competitive landscape, commodity trends, changes, and best practices. Supports category manager(s) to manage all aspects of assigned category including but not limited to sales, merchandising, item development, pricing, cost, sourcing, quality, marketing, and overall profitability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists with managing day-to-day flow of assigned category by overseeing and making decisions regarding sales, pricing, sourcing, and quality.
• Negotiates supplier contracts to ensure product quality and price ranges are aligned with Company standards. Works with vendors to resolve pricing and billing discrepancies.
• Reviews reports to track and analyze stock in warehouse, evaluate item movement from stores, and monitor late purchase orders and out of stock product.
• Orders category merchandise according to price deals and forecasted replenishment quantities.
• Makes recommendations regarding the purchase of new items and reviews other recommendations.
• Studies market analysis of consumer trends, competitive pressures, best practices, and changing demographics to develop pricing strategies. Collaborates with category manager(s) to establish product pricing for retail stores.
• Resolves disputes between vendors, government inspectors, and Company quality control standards.
• Investigates store or customer complaints about product quality and works with category management partners to resolve.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Intermediate knowledge of assigned category products and vendors.
• Intermediate mathematical skills.
• Intermediate knowledge of SAP reporting applications preferred.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Access, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with vendors.
• Ability to effectively negotiate with vendors.
• Ability to communicate effectively in written and verbal form with partners, customers, and vendors.
• Ability to prepare reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to show information in presentation or diagram form.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret information.
• Ability to research information, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive information.
• Ability to learn new technology systems, methods and processes.
• Ability to occasionally travel to off-site and out-of-town locations with possible overnight stays.
• Ability to work flexible schedules including nights, weekends and holidays.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must be attentive to potential hazards and remedy or place appropriate warning signs or devices around or near the hazard as soon as is reasonably possible.
• Must report any potential hazards that cannot be immediately remedied to a supervisor.

Education, Experience, and Qualifications

• Associates Degree in related field and two or more years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of experience and/or higher education required.
• Partners must be 21 years of age or older to drive for Company business in accordance with the BGC Business Driver Policy.

Physical Demands

• Continuously required to use close vision, distance vision, depth perception or the ability to focus.
• Frequently required to talk and hear.
• Frequently required to use hands for reaching, touching or handling.
• Frequently required to use fine finger movements (ex. sorting and typing).
• Frequently required to sit for long periods of time.
• Occasionally required to push, pull, maneuver or lift objects up to 40 lbs.
• Occasionally required to bend, kneel or squat.
• Occasionally required to stand or walk.
• Occasionally required to drive.
• Attendance at work is required.

Work Context and Environment

• Work is generally performed in an office environment with occasional visits to retail stores and Company warehouse.
• Quiet to moderate noise level.