Category Manager- Center Store

Job Title: Category Manager - Center Store

Location: Must be located in either Tampa, FL, Evansville, IN, or Dayton, OH

Position Type: Full-Time

About On The Fly

On The Fly is a rapidly expanding convenience store and gas station franchise committed to offering an elevated customer experience. We offer a wide range of products, including high-quality convenience items, fresh foods, and beverages. Our mission is to provide the best value and convenience to our customers through a dynamic assortment of products and services, all backed by exceptional customer service.

Position Overview

The Center-Store Category Manager will be responsible for overseeing the management of vendor relationships, negotiating contracts, and developing an annual promotional calendar. The ideal candidate will also be skilled in creating and implementing planograms, conducting market and competitive analysis, and using data to drive category performance. Additionally, this role involves working cross-functionally to enhance member-exclusive offers and ensuring our loyalty programs align with customer needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Vendor Management & Contract Negotiation: Build and maintain strong relationships with key vendors. Lead negotiations to secure the best pricing, terms, and product offerings. Ensure that all vendor contracts are effectively managed and in line with On The Fly’s business objectives.
• Promotional Calendar Development: Create and execute an annual promotional calendar for center-store categories, ensuring alignment with seasonal trends, key events, and customer preferences. Work with the marketing team to develop and execute in-store promotions, displays, and marketing campaigns.
• Planogram Creation & Implementation: Develop and implement strategic planograms for center-store categories, ensuring optimal product placement, product flow, and customer experience. Monitor and adjust layouts to maximize sales and meet customer demand.
• Market & Competitive Analysis: Conduct thorough market research and competitive analysis to identify category trends, opportunities, and threats. Use insights to inform product assortment, pricing strategies, and promotional activities.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Leverage exceptional data analytical skills to monitor category performance, sales trends, and KPIs. Provide actionable insights and recommendations to senior leadership to optimize product assortment and sales.
• Loyalty Program Management: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance and promote member-exclusive offers through loyalty programs. Analyze customer behavior and segmentations to ensure loyalty programs are aligned with customer needs and drive long-term engagement.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with marketing, operations, and merchandising teams to ensure seamless execution of category plans. Provide training and support to store teams to enhance product knowledge and improve the customer experience.
• Reporting & Presentations: Prepare and present regular reports to leadership on category performance, promotional activities, and competitive landscape. Provide actionable recommendations based on data analysis to drive category growth.

Qualifications:

• 5 years of experience in category management, retail management, or a similar role within the convenience store or retail industry.
• Strong experience in vendor management, contract negotiations, and promotional planning.
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and market insights.
• Experience with creating and implementing planograms and optimizing product placement.
• Solid understanding of loyalty programs and experience working cross-functionally to enhance customer engagement.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate insights and proposals to senior leadership.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment.
• Experience with using analytics tools, POS systems, and category management software.
• A customer-focused mindset and passion for driving category performance.

Why Join On The Fly?

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunity to be a part of a fast-growing, innovative brand in the convenience and retail space.
• Work in a collaborative and dynamic environment with room for professional growth and development.
• Play a pivotal role in shaping the future of On The Fly’s product offerings and customer experience.

If you are a data-driven, results-oriented Category Manager with experience in vendor management, promotional planning, and loyalty program enhancement, we would love to hear from you!