Category Director

Job Summary

The Category Director provides strategic direction and guidance on which vendors and category we align our business with to enhance overall profitability. Leads collaboration with internal and external contacts looking for opportunities to improve overall category and company profitability.  Leads the communication of category strategy within company and vendor community.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Develops and maintains meeting strategy with our strategic vendors. 
• Leads meetings at industry events (NAED, AD, NAUUD, ISA, etc.).
• Leads the communication of category strategy within company and vendor community.
• Provides leadership in executive level vendor meetings.  
• Represents Border States at the distributor advisory council to ensure best practices in the areas of digital strategy, integrating systems, differentiation of partner levels with distributors, to ensure profitability and strength of relationship with peers and partners. 
• Determines, defines, develops, and prioritizes the strategy for category team key performance indicators.
• Owns the relationship with strategic vendors related to sales growth and profitability.   
• Regularly meets with key vendors and prepares strategies for the company on strategic vendors and product lines in collaboration with all departments.
• Addresses escalated issues related to price level, mis-delivery, branch authorization, and partner collaboration, as it relates to our vendors relationship. 
• Develops strategic vendor company alignment to ensure the correct vendor and category are aligned.
• Develops and increases partnership alignment as it relates to various categories to ensure profitability and sales growth. 
• Participates on industry councils to ensure we are up to date on industry trends and new products.
• Leads the communication plan on key category activities to all departments.
• Negotiates, ensures renewals, and collects vendor rebate payments of enterprise programs and top tier vendors. 
• Responsible for setting profitability strategy for assigned portfolio of categories. 
• Collaborates with all departments on finding new ways to maximize time, efforts, and profitability to bend the cost curve.

Non-essential Functions

• Finds ways to streamline process improvement for key functions within category management.
• Develops categories strategies.  
• Develops team and category KPI's. 
• Assists in the strategy development for new category of products. 
• Supports Service Excellence initiatives by supporting Service Excellence training and mentoring opportunities with assigned staff. 
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor or designate.

Qualifications

• 4-year degree in sales, category management, product management, industrial distribution, technical or business degree and 5 years of equivalent experience required.
• 10 years of experience in category management or industry experience preferred.
• 4+ years of supervisory experience required.
• Strong knowledge of electrical, utility, industrial or communication products, and systems required.
• Knowledge of the SAP materials management system and its reporting capabilities is preferred. 
• Strong working knowledge of PC for Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint), internet, email, and SAP software. 

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent, written and verbal communication, reading, and analytical skills.
• Ability to effectively plan, organize, and negotiate.
• Ability to effectively present ideas and gain support.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong interpersonal and team building skills.
• Strategic thinker that can develop and manages through key metrics.
• Excellent customer service skills include being competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged. 

Physical Requirements

Frequency at which you would carry/lift in a typical day:
Occasionally 0 – 33% Frequently 34 – 66% Continuously: 67 – 100%

• Lift from Waist:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Not at all
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100+ lbs. - Not at all
• Lift from Floor:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Frequently
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Frequently
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Occasionally
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100+ lbs. - Not at all
• Carried for Distance:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Not at all
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100+ lbs. - Not at all

Physical Activity

Frequency at which you would do the following in a typical day:

• Sitting (a continuous period of being seated) - Continuously
• Standing (for sustained periods of time) - Frequently
• Walking (moving about on foot to accomplish tasks) - Frequently
• Bending/stooping (downward and forward) - Occasionally
• Crawling (moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet) - Not at all
• Climbing/Walking Stairs (ascending or descending) - Frequently
• Reaching (extending arms in any direction) - Frequently
• Crouching/squatting (bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine) - Occasionally
• Kneeling (bending legs at knee to come to rest on knee(s)) - Occasionally
• Balancing (maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling) - Occasionally
• Repetitive motion (substantial movement (motions) or the wrists, hands, and/or fingers) - Continuously
• Pivoting (movement in any direction with one foot, keeping the other in contact with the floor) - Occasionally
• Pushing/Pulling (using upper extremities to press against or draw or tug) - Occasionally
• Grasping (Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm) - Continuously
• Fingering (picking, pinching, typing; working with primarily fingers and not whole hand) - Continuously
• Talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word) - Frequently
• Driving (the control and operation of a motor vehicle) - Occasionally
• Desk work (work usually performed at a desk) - Continuously
• Use of a computer - Continuously
• Use of a telephone - Frequently
• Hearing (Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels) - Continuously
• Exposure (to adverse weather & temperature conditions) - Not at all
• Travel (travel needed to perform job duties) - Occasionally

Additional Information

This job description is a summary of the job duties and responsibilities and is not intended to cover all possible job duties and is subject to change at the employer’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential job duties and satisfy job requirements either with or without a reasonable accommodation.