What does an Assistant Category Manager do?
Category managers work in the retail world where they find, market, and evaluate products and merchandise for companies. They review products, evaluate suppliers, and develop merchandising initiatives with vendors and suppliers. They work in various retail establishments, including clothing, or food, and examine the aspects of merchandising. This could include the evaluation of supplies or maintenance of levels of inventory
Category managers research current trends and a company’s selling philosophies to procure the best merchandise for the lowest cost; they also assist with the development of selling strategies, product marketing, and sales support. Category managers need fluency with marketing, sales, and supply chain management and must be equal parts creative and analytical when making decisions. Category managers need a minimum bachelor's degree in supply chain management, finance, or business administration; some employers favor an MBA.
- Identify and build strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Work with support teams to ensure accurate order information.
- Build market/retailer network to maintain trend and product awareness.
- Represent purchasing in new product development projects as an active team member.
- Regularly interact with managers, VPs and SVPs internally and externally.
- Support development of market insights from cross-client sourcing activity and collaborate with TS&E Practice advisors to develop content that enables knowledge sharing across the organization.
- Manage content processes, oversee/partner with COE or agency content production requirements.
- Develop and approve recommendations to change systems, policies, and procedures. ensure timely and accurate implementation.
- Manage category resources, ensuring organizational efficiency through appropriate motivation, training, and development of direct report(s).
- Strong participation in the budgeting, operating business plans, and monthly business reviews.
- Infuse market insights into the sourcing process on projects within categories of expertise.
- Engage with prospective clients during business development pursuits through support of contract assessments, client due diligence calls, and presenting the practice delivery approach and case studies.
- Understand, comply with and attest to the security responsibilities and security controls unique to their.
- Own product launches end-to-end new from sourcing, go-to-market strategy, execution to commercialization.
- Understand costs, cost planning and analysis to support cost reductions, cost negotiations, parts strategy and supplier strategy.
- Partner with account leadership and regional delivery leads to drive such cost reduction initiatives into the accounts.
- Identify key insights and translate into actionable recommendations.
- Develop plans and priorities for the team to ensure activities are focused on achieving department goals.
- Work collaboratively with SEE cross-functional team and selected suppliers on project implementation.
- Bachelor's or Graduate's Degree in business, business administration, computer science or engineering, or equivalent experience.
- Experience with R Language, RFP/RFI, and CPIM software and processes.
- Attention to detail and dedication to continuous improvement.
- Prior experience as a consultant.
- Demonstrated eloquence and critical thinking skills.
- Confident with decision making and project moderating.
- A leader with collaboration and problem solving.
- Demonstrated negotiation skills.
- Fluency with statistics and enterprise resource planning.
Assistant Category Manager Salaries
Average Base Pay
Assistant Category Manager Career Path
Learn how to become an Assistant Category Manager, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Average Years of Experience
Assistant Category Manager Insights
Walgreens“We work a lot of late nights and this does not provide a good work life balance.”
Pristyn Care“I started by journey as a BDM here and I have got ample opportunities to grow here.”
Tesco“historically they had good progression but reality is now its not a long term career path”
Upscalio“Be sure to negotiate a good package because you wont have a work life balance.”
FAB“Good Pay and Good Brand”
Micron Technology“Good benefit and working hour is acceptable”
Bharti Airtel“Internal job posting for greater avenues for career growth within organization and not just within one's own vertical”
Foodbuy“PTO and Corporate Holidays are good.”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of an Assistant Category Manager
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The most common qualifications to become an Assistant Category Manager is a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree and an average of 0 - 1 of experience not including years spent in education and/or training.