Category Manager (Tampa)

Role Summary :

Vaughan Executive Partners has been exclusively retained by a rapidly growing retailer to identify a Category Manager. This individual will be responsible for managing and optimizing assigned product categories across all convenience store locations. The role will drive sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction through the development and execution of strategic category plans, strong vendor partnerships, performance analysis, and effective product assortment, pricing, and promotions.

Key Responsibilities :

• Develop and execute category strategies to meet company goals for sales, margin, and inventory turns.
• Analyze sales data, market trends, and customer insights to identify growth opportunities.
• Manage product assortment, pricing, promotions, and placement for assigned categories.
• Manager vendor relations to secure competitive pricing, promotional support, and supply chain efficiency.
• Collaborate with operations and marketing teams to implement merchandising plans and promotions at the store level.
• Monitor and evaluate category performance, adjusting strategies as needed to optimize results.
• Oversee new item introductions and product lifecycle management.
• Ensure planogram compliance and work with store teams to maintain merchandising standards.
• Partner with supply chain and replenishment teams to ensure product availability and forecast accuracy.
• Stay informed on industry trends, competitors, and customer preferences in the convenience retail space.

Core Competencies :

• Bachelors degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 35 years of progressive experience in category management, merchandising, or retail buyingpreferably in the convenience, grocery, or retail industry.
• Experience with a focus on the tobacco category is preferred.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.
• Proficiency with retail analytics tools, Excel, and inventory management systems.
• Understanding of category roles (e.g., traffic driver, margin builder) and customer decision trees is preferred.