Category Manager - Tobacco/OTP

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Participate in the development and lead the execution of the company’s business strategy for all assigned categories.
• Drive revenue/margin growth through effective product selection, merchandising and marketing/promotion.
• Develop and maintain successful partnerships with vendors to yield optimal financial performance within assigned categories.
• Participate in vendor negotiations to secure favorable contact terms and product costs to promote competitive pricing and margins.
• Regularly conduct research to identify industry trends and prepare and present business cases for adding new products/brands where it makes sense.
• Develop and communicate marketing/promotional/merchandising plans to store operations and help ensure their successful execution.
• Oversee the company’s Pricebook operation, including the timely and accurate entry of data, research and resolution of exceptions/discrepancies/errors and the reporting and analysis of Pricebook data.
• Other duties as assigned by management.

Experience and Education:

Required:

• Minimum 2 years of previous experience in category management, purchasing/procurement or related field
• Previous experience with negotiating vendor agreements
• Previous experience in managing retail data or Pricebook
• Previous experience working with POS systems
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Must have strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated competency in mathematics
• Prior, demonstrated experience with Microsoft office, including Microsoft Excel and Outlook
• Ability to effectively manage time, organize, prioritize tasks/projects and multi-task
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Ability to work and think independently as well as to operate effectively as part of a team.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in business management, marketing or a related field
• Previous experience managing cigarettes, tobacco and OTP categories
• Previous experience within the c-store industry
• Previous experience with PDI ERP systems
• Previous project management experience

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Some local travel by car
• Must be able to sit/stand up for up to a full 8-hour shift, in the performance of the position
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision and under stressful and changing conditions and priorities
• Must be able to use a desktop and lap top computer as well as mobile device and desk phone to accomplish duties
• Must be able to work varied hours/days as business dictates