Category Mgr, Strategy

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Serving customer and community starts with the very best people doing their very best work. That is precisely what we have at MSC Industrial Supply Co., a leading North American distributor of metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products and services.

Requisition ID :16157

Employment Type : Full Time

Job Category : Category Management

Work Location : Davidson, NC (CSC)

State or Province : North Carolina (US-NC)

BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY:

The Category Strategy Manager is responsible for executing the Category strategy through implementation of tactics, assessing results, and adapting based upon outcomes. Implementation activities can be grouped in four major disciplines: strategy management, vendor relationships, category marketing, and cross-functional collaboration. Key activities include key vendor relationship management and negotiation, product line value proposition, and annual tactics planning.

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Product Line Ownership:

• Ownership of all suppliers within assigned product line(s)
  • Responsible for population of suppliers that make up Sales of assigned product line(s)
  • Manage day-to day activities of Product Line (to include, but not limited to)
    • Resolves conflict with internal partners or external suppliers or escalates to next leadership level.
    • Fosters the MSC Culture in the department and throughout the company to ensure fulfillment of MSC’s vision and unity of purpose.
    Participation in special projects and performs additional duties as required
    

Provides supporting category and industry expertise, data, and insights for product lines used to define the strategy for the Category:

• (8-step process), with emphasis on setting, implementing, and adapting tactics:
• Define Category
• Assess Role of Category
• Assess Category Performance
• Set Objectives and Targets
• Devise Strategy
• Set Tactics
• Implement Tactics
Review and Adapt

Tactics Planning and Implementation:

• Participates in annual planning process. Creates customer solutions for assigned product lines and lead execution in partnership with sales
• Provides feedback and collaborates with the Category Operations team to continually improve processes
• Participates in cross-function initiatives to drive the business, serving as the SME for the assigned product lines
• Incorporates Change Management as the Strategy evolves
• Helps execute cross-functional plan(s) for assigned product lines incorporating sales, marketing, supply chain, and any other necessary key functions

Vendor Management:

• Negotiates with and manages key suppliers; builds strategic growth plans and aligns goals with key strategic partners
• Resolves contract-specific conflicts
• Articulates product line value propositions and whitespace
• Manages product, brand, and vendor rationalization
Collaborates with the Category Operations team to implement pricing strategy

Review Results:

• Monitors product line contribution margin (sales, cost, coop negotiation, supply chain opportunities)
• Identifies and leads execution of actions to drive growth
• Prepares thorough vendor performance reviews

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelors’ Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a Related Field; Masters Level preferred.
• Minimum of five years industry experience in distribution, supplier management and negotiations, business development, distribution, product management, marketing or merchandising management, supply chain is required.
• Ability to manage cross-functional initiatives required.
• Experience managing associates preferred.
• MS Office proficiency required

SKILLS:

• Strong execution focus; drive for results required.
• Prioritizes deliverables and allocates resources appropriately required.
• Ability to remain focused and make decisions through times of ambiguity required.
• Solid business acumen, including key financial targets, and knowledge of distribution process required.
• Strong customer focus and understanding of their needs and expectations; understands market direction and trends required.
• Ability to diagnose problems quickly and works to find solutions required.
• Successfully navigates the organization’s people and processes to accomplish work efficiently required.
• Works cross-functionally and has effectively participated on cross-functional teams required.
• Skilled at cultivating supplier relationships at a non-strategic level requited
• Comfortable negotiating externally and representing the best interests of the company required.
Strong written and verbal communication with presentation experience required.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• A valid driver’s license and the ability to travel up to 10% of the time may be required.
This position may require access to International Traffic in Arms Regulations Information (“ITAR”) and/or Controlled Unclassified Information (“CUI”).

Compensation starting at $82390 - 129470 depending on experience

The salary range represented is based on similar roles in comparable industries, and the cost of labor in respective cities. Actual compensation is based on the candidate’s relevant experience, education requirements and peer pay equity. The Company reserves the right to modify the range as market conditions change.

Why MSC? People. Collaboration. Insight. That’s how you build something that works. Built on a foundation of trust, MSC works side by side with our customers to help them drive business results. With more than one million product offerings and 75 years of experience across industries, MSC strives to help our customers achieve greater productivity, profitability, and growth through inventory management and other innovative supply chain solutions. We care about our associates and have programs in place to help our 6,500 team members achieve their potential.

When you join our team, you will receive rewards and recognition for your contributions, training and professional development opportunities, Associate Inclusion Circles: Women, Pride, Black, Veterans, HOLA and DisABLEd as well as a variety of benefits to support you and your family's health, well-being, and financial future. If you are inspired to learn, take risks, and succeed as a team, you can build a better career at MSC.

Equal Opportunity Statement: At MSC, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all qualified applicants and our associates without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any category protected by applicable law. By applying to this job you agree to the Application and Acknowledgment Declaration terms.