• Job Description

  Req#: 303208

  Our growth at Imperial Supplies is backed by our customer focused, high-performing, collaborative culture. Imperial Supplies, a Grainger company, is a national distributor of quality maintenance products. Serving the fleet maintenance industry since 1958, Imperial has formed lasting relationships with customers by tailoring our services to meet their changing needs.

  We are searching for a highly motivated Category Manager to join our team! The Category Manager is responsible for overall product category performance including private label strategy, lifecycle management, product programs and innovation. In collaboration with Procurement functions, partnering with the business to manage key metrics associated with growth, profitability, customer satisfaction and inventory management, product lifecycle management, product performance, program development/ enhancement and inventory management for assigned product categories.

  At Imperial, people come first. Here’s what we offer:

  • Competitive salary
  • Hybrid / Remote schedule
  • Work/Life balance
  • Immediate medical, dental, vision; 18 days paid vacation, 6 paid holidays and 6% of annual earnings contributed to your retirement, immediately vested!

  Key Responsibilities:

  • Manage assigned product lines with complete Profit and Loss (P&L) direction. P&L responsibility is highly cross functional and includes influencing Sales, collaborating with Sourcing, Product Acquisition, Technical Product Support, Marketing, Revenue Management and Distribution. This position will establish strategic partnerships to support key metrics for overall Procurement org and serve as escalation for Sales org.
  • Establish and execute Product Category Strategies including relevant private label offerings, product lifecycle as well as programs to support business needs. Establish PLE parameters for partner business units to support (example: brand strategy and private label classification).
  • Develop and implement Product Brand Strategy inclusive of Imperial stocked and drop ship product assortments. CM will maintain strong awareness of total company offering and product sales strategies and providing leadership to Category team on product blend and completeness of offering.
  • Responsible for development and execution of product lifecycle management. This role is highly collaborative with Sourcing, Inventory Management, Marketing and Sales to promote new SKUs, boost mature product sales and manage discontinue/ exit procedures to profitability remove products from our assortment.
  • Lead cross functional Line Reviews to ensure we have the most current and best offering, quality, and cost available. Process will include collaboration with Supplier(s), Sales, Marketing, Product Acquisition, Sourcing, Distribution, Technical Product Support, Customers and WW Grainger for assigned product categories.
  • Develop, manage, and enhance product programs to support business and customer needs. Program examples include Touchless Vehicle Lighting, Custom Safety, Non-Aerosol Chemicals etc. The CM must collaborate with Category Support leadership to manage and maintain the product programs.
  • Support Sourcing and Product Acquisition key metrics in contributing to supplier vetting, supplier performance and inventory optimization.
  • Collaborate with Sourcing and Product Acquisition teams to support the management of total product costs including but not limited to freight, tariff, duties, packaging, mitigate supply risks and source new products/categories from new sources.
  • Introduce new products and programs based on customer request, emerging market and product innovation. Each product/program will support specific revenue and gross profit objectives as presented to Leadership ahead of product launch.
  • Seen as the businesses Category Subject Matter Expert (SME), the CM will research customer needs, competitor product lines and product lifecycle. Understand market pricing and collaborate with the Revenue Management to meet gross profit objectives.
  • Routinely visit domestic supplier partners to understand product innovation. Attend trade shows to remain industry current and support Sales with customer visits to understand customer needs firsthand.
  • Support Procurement teams to help resolve quality / service issues and ensure best customers experience though working with suppliers and internal business partners.
  • Support Sourcing team in identification and evaluation of product and supplier opportunities. Possible international travel required.
  • Propose improvements or upgrades to the current product management, lifecycle management and reporting systems that will bring visibility to incremental SKU lift, cost saving opportunities, potential supply risks and supplier performance as well as promote proactive business analysis, planning, actions, and efficiency.

  Minimum Education and Experience : 4 year degree in Business, product related engineering or Marketing or equivalent work experience and 5+ years of product management experience or related category management, Marketing Segment equivalent work experience.

  Preferred Education and Experience : Master’s degree and 5–10 years of Product Management. Category Management or Product Marketing experience in industrial distribution.

  Required Skills : Effective verbal and written communication skills. Strong project management, organization, and product management skills. Attention to detail and follow through on all assignments. Ability to use PC, with proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Ability to handle multiple priorities and frequent reprioritization of priorities.

• About the company

  W W Grainger, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 industrial supply company founded in 1927 in Chicago by William W.

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