Category Manager - Body Care

Natural Grocers

$80K — $93K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in business preferred
  • Minimum 3 years’ experience in category management or buying role, ideally in corporate retail and natural foods
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Proficient in managing multiple projects under tight deadlines
  • Computer skills including MS Office; SAP experience is a plus
  • Strong analytical abilities for performance evaluation
  • Expertise in relationship building, negotiation, and influence

Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain category assortments and planograms, including exclusive and private label items
  • Manage product introductions, discontinuations, and tailor assortments for each store
  • Collaborate with stores to ensure accurate execution of new products and launches
  • Negotiate with suppliers for competitive pricing and exclusive opportunities
  • Evaluate and ensure new products meet quality standards
  • Oversee promotional execution and validate vendor funding
  • Manage ordering, pricing accuracy, and inventory levels while addressing discrepancies

Benefits

  • Collaborative work environment
  • Opportunities for professional development and growth
  • Flexibility in work responsibilities
  • Travel opportunities up to 25%
  • Hands-on involvement in various aspects of the business
Full Job Description
Salary Range
USD $80,000.00/Yr. - USD $93,000.00/Yr. Overview

The Job in a Nutshell

The Category Manager - Body Care, is responsible for developing and maintaining category assortments, planograms, pricing, and promotional strategies that support Natural Grocers’ competitive position and profitability. This role leads supplier negotiations, drives margin performance, stays aligned with trends and seasonality, and supports successful store‑level execution through strong collaboration and oversight.

Responsibilities

Main Ingredients:

  • Assortments & Planograms
  • Develop and maintain core assortments and schematics, including new, exclusive, and private label items
  • Manage product introductions, discontinuations, and store‑specific assortments
  • Partner with coordinators and stores to ensure accurate and consistent execution, including new store launches
  • New Products & Vendor Support
  • Evaluate new products to ensure alignment with Natural Grocers’ quality standards
  • Negotiate with suppliers to secure competitive costs, value‑added programs, and exclusivity opportunities
  • Maintain strong vendor and broker relationships to support long‑term category growth
  • Ordering & Inventory
  • Manage promotional, new products, and new store ordering activities
  • Manage accurate pricing and inventory levels
  • Ensure returns, recalls, and related credits are properly executed and recovered
  • Promotions & Pricing
  • Manages promotional execution, documentation, and validation of vendor funding
  • Implement pricing strategies that balance competitiveness and margin goals
  • Oversee pricing, freight, and promotional discrepancies to minimize lost sales and margin risk
  • Communication & Collaboration
  • Serve as a key point of contact for stores, coordinators, suppliers, brokers, and internal partners
  • Provide guidance and education to support successful in‑store execution of purchasing initiatives
  • Supervisory Responsibilities
  • Hire, coach, and manage Purchasing Assistant(s) or other support roles
  • Oversee daily workflow, accuracy, and prioritization
  • Conduct performance reviews and manage employee development and corrective actions in accordance with company policy
  • Although this is a general outline of job responsibilities all employees are expected to be ''hands on'' and do whatever it takes to get the job done and make the company thrive.

    Qualifications

    Recipe for Success:

     

  • Bachelor’s degree in business preferred
  • Minimum 3 years’ experience in a buying or category management role, preferably corporate retail in natural foods
  • Excellent written and communication skills are required 
  • Ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously while working under pressure to meet deadlines
  • Computer proficiency and technical aptitude with the ability to utilize MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, and Outlook are required
  • Previous experience with SAP a plus
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to analyze results 
  • Strong relationship building, negotiations, and influencing skills
  • Travel up to 25%
  •  

    This job description is not an employment contract.  It does not guarantee a job or that the above listed duties are the limit of responsibilities.  The job and job description are subject to change with and without notice.  Employees are required to accomplish any and all tasks assigned to them by their Manager and/or other Store Support Center manager that might not be listed in this job description.

    Similar Jobs

    More Jobs at Natural Grocers

    • Category Manager - Body Care
      $80K — $93K *
      Golden, CO 80401 (Jefferson County)
      Retail & Consumer Goods
      In-Person
    • Assistant Store Manager
      $1456K+ *
      Evergreen, CO 80439 (Jefferson County)
      Retail & Consumer Goods
      In-Person
    • Store Manager
      $84K *
      Billings, MT 59102 (Yellowstone County)
      Retail & Consumer Goods
      In-Person
    • Assistant Store Manager
      $122K *
      Fredericksburg, TX 78624 (Gillespie County)
      Retail & Consumer Goods
      In-Person
    • Assistant Store Manager
      $128K *
      Appleton, WI 54915 (Outagamie County)
      Retail & Consumer Goods
      In-Person

    More Retail & Consumer Goods Jobs

    Find similar Category Manager - Body Care jobs: