Category manager - undercar

AST auto

$75K — $95K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Finance, or related field required.
  • 2-3 years' experience in merchandising or category management in a retail/wholesale environment required.
  • Automotive industry experience preferred, including product knowledge or training.
  • Familiarity with cataloging systems (e.g., Weatherly Index) or ASE Certification preferred.
  • Strong analytical skills with P&L management experience.
  • Excellent negotiation skills with a collaborative approach.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and inventory reporting systems.

Responsibilities

  • Maximize revenue, margin, and inventory productivity to meet financial plans.
  • Develop and refine sales and assortment strategies based on customer needs.
  • Analyze market and competitive data to uncover growth opportunities.
  • Provide merchandising direction for categories, aligning teams effectively.
  • Collaborate with Supply Chain, Marketing, Operations, and Finance to execute strategies.
  • Build strong vendor relationships to enhance innovation and profitability.
  • Contribute to the development of proprietary products for the Canadian market.

Benefits

  • Collaborative team environment promoting continuous improvement.
  • Opportunities for professional growth and skills development.
  • Involvement in innovative projects within the automotive industry.
  • Strong company culture focusing on learning and support.
  • Engagement with cross-functional teams and key industry partners.
Full Job Description
How you will make an impact?

As a Category Manager, you will use teamwork and collaboration to manage multiple product categories end to end, partnering cross-functionally to develop and execute category strategies that drive financial performance, market share, and inventory health across corporate stores and wholesale customers.

What you'll do:
  • Deliver financial plans by maximizing revenue, margin, and inventory productivity.
  • Develop, implement, and continuously refine assortment, sales, and buying strategies aligned with customer needs and business objectives.
  • Leverage existing reporting tools while helping evolve new metrics to support smarter decision-making.
  • Analyze market, customer, and competitive data to identify growth opportunities and risks.
  • Provide clear merchandising direction for assigned categories, ensuring alignment across teams.
  • Partner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Marketing, Operations, and Finance to execute strategies effectively.
  • Develop and maintain strong, collaborative vendor relationships that drive innovation, profitability, and long-term value.
  • Partner closely with the O'Reilly U.S. merchandising team to support the development of differentiated and proprietary product offerings for the Canadian market.
  • Represent the category in key forums, including Joint Business Planning, promotional planning, and cross-functional initiatives.
  • Take accountability for key decisions and results.
  • Contribute to a culture of learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement - for yourself and those around you.


Qualifications & Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Finance, or a related field (required).
  • Minimum of 2-3 years' experience in merchandising, category management, or a related retail/wholesale role (required).
  • Automotive industry experience, product knowledge, or training (preferred).
  • Familiarity with cataloging systems (e.g., Weatherly Index) or ASE Certification (preferred).
  • Strong analytical skills with experience managing or influencing P&L performance.
  • Excellent negotiation skills with a win-win approach.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other MS Office applications; ability to work with reporting and inventory systems.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to present findings and influence stakeholders.
  • Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
  • Customer service-oriented mindset with a focus on building strong relationships.


If you are excited about this opportunity, we encourage you to submit your resume. If your application is selected, we will contact you to schedule an interview.

Note: Vast-Auto Distribution does not use AI for job screening purposes

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