DescriptionJob Title: Retail Category & Systems Manager
Reports To: Retail Division General Manager / Designee
FLSA Status: Exempt
Status: Full-Time
Department: Retail
Location: TMG Retail Division
Job SummaryThe Retail Category & Systems Manager is responsible for strengthening retail performance through product selection, pricing, inventory control, merchandising execution, retail systems accuracy, and customer rewards program administration. This role manages vendor relationships, buying decisions, back-office retail systems, point-of-sale interfaces, inventory strategies, and store-layout standards to support profitability, operational consistency, and a positive customer experience across retail locations.
This position upholds TMG's Mission and Core Values by demonstrating integrity, accountability, respect, continuous learning, and follow-through in daily work. At TMG, how we work matters as much as what we achieve, and team members are expected to model these values through their actions and relationships.
This includes following the Good Path, Aiming High, Honoring the Circle, Nurturing a Good Mind, and Holding the Fire.
Primary Responsibilities (includes but is not limited to) Merchandising & Inventory Management - Develop, implement, and maintain planograms and store layouts to maximize product visibility, space productivity, and ease of shopping.
- Establish and manage inventory levels to support product availability while minimizing shrink, overstocks, and out-of-stocks.
- Analyze sales trends, inventory movement, margins, and product performance to adjust product selection and replenishment strategies.
- Partner with store managers to support accurate and consistent execution of planograms, layouts, pricing, and product placement.
- Review category performance and recommend product additions, discontinuations, substitutions, or space adjustments based on available data.
Vendor Relations & Buying - Build and maintain professional vendor and supplier relationships.
- Negotiate pricing, purchasing terms, service expectations, and product support in the best interest of the Retail Division.
- Act as the primary buyer for assigned store product categories, selecting items that align with sales trends, customer demand, inventory goals, and profitability expectations.
- Coordinate new product introductions, item changes, and product discontinuations with suppliers and store operations.
- Monitor vendor performance, product availability, costs, and service issues, and coordinate corrective action when needed.
- Track and document negotiated vendor deals, discounts, rebates, cost reductions, and special purchasing agreements. Prepare and submit a quarterly report summarizing vendor savings and the total dollar amount achieved for the Retail Division.
Pricing & Profitability - Conduct pricing and margin analysis to support competitive positioning and profitability.
- Develop and recommend retail pricing strategies using sales data, cost changes, market information, and category performance.
- Maintain accurate regular, seasonal, and time-limited price changes within approved back-office systems.
- Monitor the financial impact of cost and retail price changes and communicate material issues to Retail leadership.
Retail Systems & Technology - Oversee back-office retail systems used for item setup, product updates, cost changes, retail pricing, inventory, and reporting.
- Serve as the subject matter expert for cashier interfaces and related retail system functions, supporting smooth transaction processing and issue resolution.
- Coordinate item, pricing, inventory, and cashier-interface data across point-of-sale, back-office, and inventory management systems.
- Troubleshoot system issues, document findings, and coordinate resolution with store operations, vendors, IT, or system support resources as appropriate.
- Maintain accurate system records and support process improvements that strengthen data integrity and operational efficiency.
Rewards Program Administration - Administer the customer rewards program within approved retail systems.
- Monitor rewards-program configuration, transaction accuracy, offer setup, and system performance.
- Use available rewards data to evaluate program activity, identify operational issues, and support informed retail decisions.
- Coordinate resolution of rewards-program issues with store operations, systems support, and applicable vendors.
Reporting, Store Support & Collaboration - Prepare and maintain reports on sales, margins, inventory movement, pricing, product performance, and system accuracy.
- Communicate item, price, planogram, system, and inventory changes clearly to store teams.
- Provide guidance and training to store managers and associates on merchandising standards, retail systems, pricing processes, and inventory procedures.
- Work cross-functionally with store managers, Retail leadership, IT, Accounting, vendors, and system support resources to resolve operational, merchandising, pricing, inventory, reporting, and system issues.
- Maintain organized documentation for item setup, pricing, vendor information, planograms, system changes, and related procedures.
Monthly Sales Data & Sage Import Responsibilities - Convenience Store Monthly Sales Import: Prepare the monthly convenience-store retail sales upload by extracting sales data from ADD Systems, formatting the information according to Sage import requirements, assigning the correct general ledger accounts, importing the data into the master Sales Import file, reviewing the completed file for accuracy, and uploading it into Sage.
- Tim Hortons Monthly Sales Import: Retrieve sales data from Clearview for each of the three Tim Hortons franchises. Validate sales totals and transaction data, consolidate and transform the information into the Sage import format, create the required CSV file, upload the file into Sage, and verify that the import is successful and sales entries are posted correctly.
- Papa John's Monthly Sales Import: Collect and enter daily sales information into the monthly sales workbook. At month-end, validate the sales data, format it into a CSV file, upload it into Sage, and verify that the monthly sales activity is recorded accurately for financial reporting.
- Bear's Den Restaurant Monthly Sales Import: Collect and enter daily sales information into the monthly sales workbook. At month-end, validate the sales data, format it into a CSV file, upload it into Sage, and verify that the monthly sales activity is recorded accurately for financial reporting.
- Heart to Heart Fitness Monthly Sales Import: Collect and enter daily sales information into the monthly sales workbook. At month-end, validate the sales data, format it into a CSV file, upload it into Sage, and verify that the monthly sales activity is recorded accurately for financial reporting.
- Accounts Payable Import to Sage: Close and extract invoices from ADD Systems, sort and organize the extracted data, make required formatting adjustments, and enter or import the information into Sage for payment processing. Review the information for completeness and accuracy before submission.
Minimum Qualifications - Three or more years of experience in merchandising, retail operations, buying, inventory management, category management, retail systems administration, or a closely related area within a convenience-store or comparable retail environment.
- Working knowledge of retail back-office systems, point-of-sale software, and inventory management platforms.
- Strong analytical ability, including the use of sales, pricing, margin, and inventory data to support decisions.
- Demonstrated negotiation and vendor-management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple product categories, pricing updates, system changes, and merchandising priorities accurately.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Organized, professional, and culturally aware.
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
- Computer proficiency with internet access and Microsoft Office, including strong Excel skills for data review, reporting, file formatting, and import preparation.
Preferred Qualifications - Experience with convenience-store back-office systems such as PDI, Gilbarco, ADD Systems, or similar platforms.
- Experience with planogram-building software.
- Knowledge of convenience-store product categories and consumer purchasing patterns.
- Strong understanding of retail pricing, loyalty programs, inventory controls, and planogram execution.
- Experience working within Native American territories, Tribal communities, or culturally diverse retail environments.
Physical & Work Environment Requirements - Must be able to stand, walk, bend, reach, and climb during store visits and merchandising activities.
- Must be able to occasionally lift or move up to 35 pounds of merchandise, fixtures, signage, or product samples.
- May be exposed to outdoor weather, fuel odors, temperature changes, and moderate noise while visiting retail locations.
- Manual dexterity is required for using computers, retail systems, handheld devices, shelf labels, displays, and product fixtures.
- Must be able to travel between assigned retail locations as business needs require.
