Location: New Paltz,NY, USA
Position Overview:
The Category Manager – Tobacco is responsible for driving the growth and profitability of the tobacco category within our organization. This role encompasses strategic planning, product selection, pricing strategies, market analysis, promotional activities, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Additionally, the role involves managing scan-data reporting, collaborating with marketing teams for loyalty program enhancements and digital transformation initiatives, and identifying opportunities to grow the category for tobacco alternatives. The ideal candidate will leverage data-driven insights to optimize product assortments and collaborate effectively with vendors and cross-functional teams.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic Planning: Develop and implement comprehensive merchandising plans for the tobacco category, aligning with the company's overall market strategy and consumer trends.
- Product Lifecycle Management: Dynamically manage the product assortment lifecycle to capitalize on trends and minimize inventory exposure of slow-moving items.
- Vendor Management: Establish and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, negotiating terms to ensure alignment with strategic merchandising efforts and company objectives.
- Contract Evaluation: Conduct comprehensive reviews of vendor agreements to identify and capitalize on funding opportunities, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and maximizing financial returns.
- Pricing and Promotions: Develop and execute pricing strategies and promotional activities to drive sales and profitability, utilizing price optimization tools and market analysis.
- Market Analysis: Conduct competitive market analysis and consumer insights studies to translate trends and consumer needs into actionable merchandising actions.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all tobacco products and marketing activities comply with relevant laws and regulations, staying updated on regulatory changes.
- Scan-Data Reporting and Analysis: Leverage scan-data reporting to track sales performance, monitor consumer behavior, and identify opportunities for category growth. Ensure accuracy and timeliness of data submissions to vendors and regulatory bodies.
- Loyalty Program and Digital Transformation Collaboration: Partner with the marketing team to enhance loyalty programs with targeted promotions for the tobacco category. Collaborate on digital transformation initiatives, including the integration of tobacco-related offerings into mobile apps and online platforms.
- Tobacco Alternatives Expansion: Identify and cultivate opportunities to grow the category with alternative products, such as nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, and other reduced-risk tobacco products. Develop strategies to educate consumers about tobacco alternatives and integrate them into the product mix.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with operations and marketing teams to ensure successful execution of merchandising programs and initiatives.
- Performance Monitoring: Monitor and report on category KPIs to measure and manage sales, unit, and margin performance, as well as inventory levels, to meet budget and performance expectations.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field.
- 5+ years of progressive experience in retail marketing, category management, or operations, with a focus on the tobacco industry/category.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and market trends.
- Excellent negotiation and vendor management skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Exceptional communication and organizational skills.