Associate Category Manager, Soft Surface Flooring

Associate Category Manager, Soft Surface Flooring

Are you ready to grow your career? Empire Today is looking for an Associate Category Manager, Soft Surface Flooring to join our dynamic team of professionals. The Associate Category Manager, Soft Surface Flooring supports the Sr. Category Manager to deliver on Soft Surface flooring business volume and profit goals. The Associate Category Manager, Soft Surface Flooring co-develops and executes category plans and product strategies. This associate will also be responsible for specific category full lifecycle of buying including planning, analysis, assortment selection, website and sample board accuracy. This associate utilizes sales, research, and trend analytics to develop strategies for the merchandise categories and optimizes product assortments. The Associate Category Manager, Soft Surface Flooring develops merchandise plans and pricing that support key strategic initiatives, launches, top sellers, seasonal campaigns, and trends, and will partner across functions to manage vendor relationships, identify new vendors, and negotiate favorable contract terms.

We offer:

• Health benefits with quick enrollment - medical, dental, and vision.

• 401K plan with premium 4% company match.

• Paid time off & holiday pay.

• Wellness program.

• Professional development & career advancement opportunities.

• Incentive program.

• Lots of perks!

Responsibilities:

• Develop the business strategy and owns financial outcomes for assigned soft surface flooring and accessories product categories including sales, margin and inventory productivity. Partner with finance and supply chain teams on initial product orders, product transitions and ongoing forecasts.

• Assist the Category manager with specific category planning, buying, analysis, marketing, inventory management, and sample board execution.

• Keep current with industry trends of assigned categories, developing knowledge of industry, sourcing, competition, and trends.

• Build strong vendor relationships. Assist in supplier selection process, develop successful partnerships to create long term strategic relationships, new relationships, and continuous improvement of existing relationships.

• Successfully negotiate best terms and pricing for assigned categories. Implement purchase agreements while ensuring quality specifications are met or exceeded.

• Manage product life cycle and assortment management from introduction to obsolescence for assigned categories. May handle product configuration.

• Responsible for development of category specific training materials and new product communication.

• Ensure all procurement practices follow applicable regulations and laws in partnership with legal. Oversee quality process, vendor contracts and setup documentation, item setup accuracy, packaging, warranty and spec sheet management for assigned categories.

• Participate in product line reviews and quarterly business reviews. Develop and deliver routine business summaries and reports to internal stakeholders. Assists in the Line Review setup, manages schedule and vendor meetings.

• Collaborate to ensure that website has current and best content.

• Manage any new product roll out, obsolete inventory, and stop sale communications to the field.

• Partner with vendors to resolve issues including product claims and installation disputes, invoice variances and returns to vendors for assigned product lines. Track credit memo follow-up with vendors. Facilitate escalations for claims follow ups with legal for assigned categories.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, Finance, or related field.

• 2+ years buying/sourcing experience. Flooring products preferred.

• Must be both hands on and strategic with the ability to navigate between the two.

• Strong merchandising business acumen, understanding of financial drivers and the impact to the business.

• Strategic thinker with demonstrated ability to synthesize and interpret financial data, apply to decision making, summarize and effectively present.

• Proven negotiation skills with positive outcomes and mutually beneficial business relationships.

• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills necessary to effectively exercise tact, discretion, judgement, professionalism and diplomacy with all levels of internal and external customers in a global industry.

• Multi-task, meet deadlines and work in a fast-paced environment.

• Intermediate in Microsoft applications (Powerpoint, Word, Excel, Outlook).

• Ability to travel up to 20% as needed.

Why Empire Today?

We empower our employees to strive for their unique goals. Within such an inclusive company with unlimited growth opportunities, how far you go is up to you.

We take care of our people. We start investing in you from day one. The perks and benefits we offer help you live well, both at work and at home.

We have an unmatched company culture. We've won multiple awards for employee and customer satisfaction, and we believe it all comes down to our culture of teamwork, creativity, and growth.

We're one of the nation's most recognizable brands. You'll enjoy the stability that comes with a national company and a sense of pride when you're a part of our team.

Empire Today is an equal opportunity employer. We believe passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to our success. Base pay is one part of our total rewards package. Starting pay may vary based on a number of factors, including but not limited to position offered, location, and the individuals' knowledge, skills and ability. By Submitting your resume and application information, you authorize Empire Today to transmit and store your information in the Empire Today group companies' world-wide recruitment database, and to circulate that information as necessary for the purpose of evaluating your qualifications for this or other job vacancies. By pressing apply and providing your telephone number and email address, you authorize Empire Today to contact you by email or telephone at the wireless or landline phone number provided using automated phone technology and/or text messaging. Message and data charges may apply. You may revoke consent at any time.