JOB PURPOSE
The Director, Category Management is responsible for leading category strategy and customer-facing category management execution for Mevotech's warehouse distributor customers across the United States and Canada. This role drives profitable growth by aligning assortment strategy, product positioning, pricing, promotional support, and line review execution with customer needs, market trends, and business objectives. The Director leads a team responsible for category insights and execution, and partners cross-functionally with sales, marketing, supply chain, catalog, pricing, and product teams to improve fill rate, sales performance, profitability, and customer satisfaction across WD accounts.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Develop and execute category strategies for warehouse distributor customers across the US and Canada, aligned with customer objectives and Mevotech growth priorities.
• Lead customer-specific assortment planning, line reviews, gap analysis, and recommendation development to improve coverage, sales, and market share.
• Translate market, customer, competitive, and vehicle parc insights into actionable category plans, launch priorities, and commercial recommendations.
• Partner closely with sales teams to support customer presentations, business reviews, promotional planning, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Work cross-functionally with product, pricing, catalog, supply chain, and marketing teams to ensure accurate assortment setup, competitive positioning, and successful launch execution.
• Develop pricing and margin recommendations that support customer competitiveness while protecting company profitability.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators including sales, gross margin, fill rate, product mix, launch performance, and customer profitability, and drive corrective actions where required.
• Lead and develop a high-performing category management team, establishing clear priorities, accountability, and a customer-first mindset.
• Build strong relationships with key WD customers and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment on opportunities, risks, and execution priorities.
• Coordinate category planning across both Canadian and US markets, accounting for customer requirements, regional needs, and operational realities.
• Support annual planning, forecasting, and portfolio prioritization processes to ensure resources are focused on the highest-value customer and category opportunities.
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field; MBA is an asset.
• 10+ years of experience in category management, product management, sales support, or commercial leadership, preferably within the automotive aftermarket or a related industry.
• Proven experience working with warehouse distributor customers, including line reviews, assortment planning, customer presentations, and growth strategy development.
• Strong understanding of category analytics, market trends, competitive benchmarking, and customer performance drivers.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to balance sales growth, customer needs, and margin objectives.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence internal teams and customer partners.
• Experience working cross-functionally with sales, supply chain, pricing, product, catalog, and marketing functions.
• Advanced analytical capability and proficiency with Excel, ERP systems, and business intelligence or reporting tools.
• Knowledge of the North American automotive aftermarket, including customer channel dynamics in both Canada and the United States.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment with multiple priorities and deadlines.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS
• Work in office as per hybrid policy (minimum 4 days on-site per week).
• Ability to travel to other locations or offsite meetings.
• Work under pressure and tight deadlines and work overtime as needed.
