Category Manager

Purpose of Role

The purpose of this role is to use data and market insights to develop sales strategy for our Direct Store Delivery Solutions product portfolio. This individual will implement strategies to identify product value for assigned category for Rehrig Pacific. The Category Manager will identify product trends and synthesize information and partnerships across multiple cross-functional touch points, providing goals, communicating business needs & driving solutions in a fast-paced, multi-dimensional environment.

Areas Of Accountabilities

Business Insight

• Provide analytics and insights to support Rehrig Pacific AOP and internal business reviews to internal stakeholders.
• Leverage Rehrig’s value proposition and real time understanding of competitive landscape.
• Facilitate Market Intelligence to understand external industry trends, the competitive environment and our internal performance to integrate benchmarking into sourcing strategies, supplier selections, negotiation plans and other processes and decision making.
• Create and establish internal/external benchmark analysis and required actions to achieve category functional advantage.
• Review Rehrig Pacific and competitor pricing to ensure we are priced competitively within each of the markets in which we operate.
• Provide accurate and timely updates on competitive activity and industry conditions to sales management.
  
  

Customer Value

• Build customer facing programs to incentivize participation of early adopter customers, in order to secure new product deployments and enter into new verticals.
• Link product value to customer needs and build sales tools to support selling activities.
• Identify opportunities for strategic expansion beyond current categories - including products, services, and experiences that will excite our customers and differentiate Rehrig Pacific above the competition.
• Facilitate customer handoff with Sales organization to support growth and scalability of DSD program.
  
  

Category Strategy

• Identify new product integrations or future opportunities to support growth in the sales pipeline.
• Support the organization in the commercialization of Rehrig Pacific new Delivery Solutions product offerings.
• Educate sales teams on market trends and insights relevant to future growth and development.
• Develop short and long-term category strategies and tactics to maximize growth and profit, including short term innovation projects and cross-functional work with NPD team on long-term category innovation.
• Meet and exceed, revenue and gross profit budget in collaboration with Sales VPs.
• Ensure customer products and programs deliver ROI for Rehrig Pacific.
• Establish and facilitate quarterly updates and planning forecasting sessions with Sales team to ensure strategic initiatives and financial metrics are meeting expectations.
• Create sales strategies to keep the company competitive and innovative, mitigate roadblocks, and avoid stagnation in the marketplace.
  
  

Cross Functional Relationships

• Partner with Marketing team to develop key promotional/sales plans that create and drive revenue and category growth.
• Engage with Sales to identify DSD opportunities, then support site surveys and ride-alongs to build customer trust and ensure smooth deployments.
• Collaborate with National Sales Manager and Category Management team to facilitate training for Sales on products, strategies, trends, and services.
• Establish effective internal relationships and adapt communication approach with other departments.
• Collaborate with New Product Development in commercializing Rehrig Pacific’s DSD product portfolio and bring new products to market by analyzing latest trends and market insights.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Experience

• BA / BS degree required.
• 4+ years category management, retail, supply chain, manufacturing and/or B2B.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated business acumen and exceptional negotiation skills
• Ability to work under pressure and still deliver results.
• Strong category skills: product commercialization, relationship building, presentations, influencing skills.
• Ability to foster and maintain cross functional relationships both in and outside the organization.
• Minimum 50% of time spent traveling by airplane.
• Job may require physical lifting of product, up to 40 lbs. (Samples of crates, trays, pallets, etc.)
  
  

The wage range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. At Rehrig Pacific, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the base salary is $115,000.00.