Category Manager - Footwear

Job Title:                              Category Manager - Footwear 

Job Location:                       Store Support Center, Mattoon, IL

Reports to:                          Vice President of Purchasing

FLSA Status:                        Salaried Exempt

Exempt Classification:       Administrative

JOB SUMMARY

The Category Manager owns and drives all facets of product assortment, financial planning and vendor partnerships of the category with strong collaboration with their integrated cross-functional team.

JOB DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Relationships
  • Develop strong vendor partnerships
  • Partner with suppliers on product development, as well as the Global Sourcing department on private product label development, as needed
  • Responsible for program management of co-op, vendor allowances, and promotional strategies
  • Negotiate all pricing, vendor terms, and opportunity buys and FREE GOODS
  • Oversee and manage communication with Stores and Distribution Centers
  • Partner with Logistics and DC for most efficient flow of product to stores
  • Visit RK Stores to establish open communication and understanding store challenges
• Product
  • Stay abreast of market dynamics and competition
  • Manage pricing, sales, and profit margin of products to plan
  • Identify new opportunities to deliver products the customer wants and needs
  • Conduct category reviews as needed (2-3 per year)
  • Develop seasonal merchandise assortments along with pricing and merchandising plans
• Planning/Analysis
  • Place, track and insure complete and on-time delivery of all new store orders
  • Provide Inventory Analyst with problems that need analysis, improvement or change.
  • Review recommendations from Inventory Analysts and determine direction and appropriate action.
  • Partner with Inventory Analyst to monitor and react to seasonal product performance.
  • Maintain detailed current knowledge of sales, inventory and profit trends for your area
  • Generate and leverage reports for effective decision making
  • Complete assortment planning and product lifecycles
  • Collaborate to create financial plans (open to buy) that will align with organizational goals
  • Optimize "in stock" on basic items by collaborating with your designated replenishment specialists/partner
  • Identify poor performing items and categories and reduce inventory and liabilities
  • Partner with an Inventory Analyst to determine sales, inventory and turn goals including preseason flow plans and projections
• Advertising and Promotion
  • o   Develop and submits advertising and promotional plans that deliver increases in sales and store traffic per the advertising process, pricing policy and timelines
  • o   Ensure accuracy of print advertising and product in stock to 98.5%
  • o   Collaborate with the Digital Aisle Team to identify assortment, placement, promotions, and marketing strategies to drive sales and profits. This is a core responsibility and should be a major focus
• Store Planning
  • Provide timely direction on new SKU’s and new programs to Store Planning to develop and maintain accurate planograms per the Store Planning process and timelines
  • Ensure planograms are appropriate to volume and space of stores and grouped for volume levels
• Team Leadership
  • Lead the team to drive sales, manage inventory, and achieve the financial goals of the department
  • Create and communicate a strategic vision for the department, including visual merchandising strategies
• May be required to cross train and perform other duties

QUALIFICATIONS

• 3-5 years of multi-unit purchasing experience
• Strong knowledge of purchasing systems
• Intermediate to advanced experience with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
• Proven strong negotiation skills
• Strong communication, presentation and analytical skills
• Knowledge of the categories is required
• Ability to participate in our online applicant and new hire onboarding process remotely
• Ability to complete computer-based training

 SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES 

• No

 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally to all audiences
• Good visual acuity
• Close vision for computer work
• Repetitive wrist movements on keyboard
• Ability to sit/stand/walk for long periods of time
• Ability to walk up and down stairs multiple times per day

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.