Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Marketing, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
5-7 years of experience in retail category management; convenience retail experience is a plus.
Proven success in managing category P&L, including sales growth and inventory productivity.
Experience in developing data-driven category strategies and promotional planning.
Track record of negotiating supplier agreements and trade funding for financial success.
Responsibilities
Own P&L performance for tobacco and service categories to drive sales and market share.
Develop annual category strategies with a 3-year roadmap focusing on assortment and pricing.
Lead joint business planning and negotiate agreements with key supplier partners.
Analyze data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for category growth.
Ensure compliance with regulatory and company standards for assigned categories.
Provide leadership and coaching to the associate category manager for performance support.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align on pricing, promotions, and execution.
Benefits
Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
Company Paid Life Insurance
Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account
Short- & Long-Term Disability Insurance, fully company paid
Employee Assistance Program
401K with Company Match
Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Holidays
Options for Voluntary Supplemental coverage including life and disability insurance, and legal insurance.
Full Job Description
Position Responsibilities:
Own the full P&L performance of assigned tobacco and service categories, delivering sales growth, margin expansion, inventory productivity, and market share gains across all banners.
Develop and execute annual category strategies and 3-year roadmaps, including assortment optimization, pricing architecture, manufacturer program execution, regulatory compliance, promotional strategy, and innovation aligned to company growth objectives.
Lead joint business planning with key supplier partners; negotiate cost of goods, trade funding, promotional investment, manufacturer agreements, and contract terms to maximize ROI.
Utilize POS data, syndicated insights, customer analytics, manufacturer data, and competitive intelligence to identify trends, pricing opportunities, business risks, and actionable category plans.
Ensure assigned categories comply with applicable federal, state, local, manufacturer, and company requirements while partnering with Operations on consistent execution.
Lead the strategic direction of cigarettes, other tobacco products, nicotine alternatives, lottery and gaming, and assigned service programs.
Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to the associate category manager, supporting execution, professional development, and business performance.
Develop strategic supplier partnerships to strengthen manufacturer programs, merchandising initiatives, pricing strategies, and contractual performance.
Partner with Marketing, Loyalty, Operations, Supply Chain, and merchandising teams to ensure alignment on promotions, pricing, regulatory execution, in-stock performance, and execution.
Monitor supplier scorecards to ensure accountability for service levels, manufacturer commitments, innovation, and financial performance.
Evaluate promotional effectiveness, pricing strategies, and manufacturer programs to maximize return on promotional investment.
Present category performance updates, strategic plans, and key initiatives to senior leadership and field operations.
Travel independently as required (approximately 10%).
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Marketing, or related field required; advanced degree a plus. Equivalent combination of education and relevant retail merchandising experience will be considered.
Minimum 5-7 years of progressive experience in retail category management, merchandising, or multi-unit retail operations; convenience retail experience strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success owning category P&L performance, including sales growth, gross margin expansion, and inventory productivity improvement.
Experience developing and executing data-driven category strategies, assortment optimization, pricing architecture, and promotional planning.
Proven track record negotiating cost of goods, trade funding, and supplier agreements to drive measurable financial outcomes.
Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to translate complex data into actionable business decisions.
Preferred Skills and Competencies:
Strategic thinker with strong financial acumen and business ownership mindset.
Ability to influence cross-functional partners and present effectively to senior leadership.
High level of organization and attention to detail with disciplined follow-through.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; experience with POS and syndicated data tools preferred.
