Category Manager, Softlines

We are looking for an experienced and entrepreneurial Vendor Manager with Project Management expertise to help create a best-in-class experience for Retail Categories.

Responsibilities include managing the category and vendor portfolio building and sustaining strategic relationships with key local and global manufacturers and suppliers improving the end-to-end Amazon customer experience and helping to shape the evolution of how customers shop online for these categories.
We are looking for a passionate customer and category advocate within Amazon with proven analytical capabilities and project management skills strong attention to detail the ability to effectively prioritize and multi-task and a proven record of driving category growth.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter with a passion for retail high levels of flexibility and commitment and ability to hire and develop a high-performing team.

Responsibilities:

Customer Focus
- Evaluates products and services to continually drive quality of customer experience.
- Aggregates and escalates industry trends; ensures team prioritizes customer obsession.
- Identifies opportunities to differentiate our customer experience from the competition.

Strategy
- Develops and implements action plans based on deep-dive analysis of product line metrics.
- Provides recommendation on business opportunities and long-term strategy for multiple sub-categories.

Vendor/Project Management
- Expands current vendor selection and secures new brand selection.
- Focuses on strategic holdout or challenging vendors to increase selection.
- Drives strategic negotiations to deliver top- and bottom-line category growth.
- Builds long-term relationships by creating value opportunities for growth customer acquisition and brand-building for multiple vendors.
- Increases vendor participation through deep knowledge of program opportunities.

In-Stock Management
- Manage inventory availability and inventory health including: improved in-stock inventory planning vendor operational improvement (efficiency fill rates lead times) systematic forecasting efficiency improvement with vendors and within the fulfillment centers.
- Drive tools and process improvements that affect purchasing and vendor management workflows.

Business Operations
- Dives deep into inputs and understands the downstream impact of changes to pricing selection and convenience for multiple subcategories.
- Owns the Retail P&L for multiple subcategories; develops plans that drive revenue and margin improvement for the business.
- Audits all elements of multiple subcategory businesses.
- Identifies areas that need vendor attention and directs team to address issues; acts as escalation point helping team and vendor(s) resolve conflicts.
- Creates long-term category solutions that automate or simplify category processes.
- Works with internal technical cross-category and tech teams to drive multi-system process changes.




Key job responsibilities
Own and drive the strategic relationship with assigned vendor partners across the Softlines category serving as the primary point of contact and ensuring alignment on business objectives growth initiatives and operational excellence

Develop and execute comprehensive business plans with vendors to achieve revenue targets selection expansion and customer experience improvements including negotiating terms pricing strategies and promotional calendars

Analyze business performance metrics including sales trends inventory health traffic patterns and conversion rates to identify opportunities and risks and develop data-driven action plans to optimize vendor performance

Lead cross-functional initiatives with internal teams including retail marketing operations and finance to drive vendor success and resolve complex business challenges

Manage vendor P&L accountability including forecasting budgeting and tracking key financial metrics such as gross merchandise sales (GMS) margins and profitability targets

Drive selection expansion by identifying gaps in the catalog sourcing new products and brands and ensuring competitive pricing and compelling value propositions for customers

Own vendor operational excellence including inventory management fulfillment performance product quality standards and compliance with company policies and marketplace requirements

Develop and execute promotional strategies and marketing campaigns in partnership with vendors to drive traffic conversion and customer engagement during key retail events and seasonal peaks

Build and maintain strong vendor relationships through regular business reviews strategic planning sessions and proactive communication to foster long-term partnerships

Mentor and develop junior team members sharing best practices and contributing to the overall growth and capability building of the vendor management organization

A day in the life
As a Vendor Manager in Softlines your day is dynamic and multifaceted. Youll start your morning reviewing performance dashboards analyzing overnight sales data and identifying trends across your vendor portfolioperhaps noticing a spike in demand for a particular brand or category that requires immediate action. Youll spend time in strategic discussions with your vendor partners negotiating promotional opportunities for upcoming events or troubleshooting inventory challenges to ensure we maintain strong in-stock levels.

Mid-day might find you collaborating with cross-functional teamsworking with the marketing team to finalize creative assets for an upcoming campaign partnering with operations to resolve a fulfillment issue or meeting with finance to review quarterly forecasts. Youll dive deep into data using analytics tools to understand customer behavior competitive positioning and margin opportunities then translating these insights into actionable recommendations for your vendors.

Afternoons often involve strategic planningwhether youre building business cases for new brand launches preparing for quarterly business reviews with key partners or mentoring team members on vendor negotiation strategies. Youll balance the immediate needs of day-to-day business management with long-term strategic initiatives that drive sustainable growth. Throughout the day youre the bridge between our vendors and internal stakeholders solving problems removing blockers and ensuring that our customers have access to the best selection at competitive prices. The role requires agility analytical rigor and strong relationship-building skills as you navigate the fast-paced world of e-commerce retail.

- 3 years of with Excel experience
- 5 years of retail operations product or program management or business management/consulting with negotiations and delivering results experience
- Bachelors degree or 3 years of professional or military experience
- Experience with financial analysis and P&L ownership

- Experience managing large data sets and utilizing to drive performance and process improvements
- Experience in vendor negotiations pricing and promotion inventory management and product development

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