Category Manager

Description

• Provide weekly executive visibility on category performance
• Execute against the gotomarket strategy for the category
• Own the merchandising and classification of products in the category. Manage the products pricing promotion and placement for industry velocity SKUs
• Review and assess the industry and category landscape looking for key trends shifts in market dynamics and new disruptive technologies and make recommendations for corporate implementation
• Review industry reports (Gartner IDC Forrester NPD) and analytics to ensure Zones is partnering with market leaders and identifying emerging OEMs
• Develop/Analyze segmentation within ecosystem of target markets
• Understand and communicate the partner product roadmap and gotomarket strategy for growth in targeted markets/segments
• Communicate partner strategy and leadwith guidance to Sales Solutions & Professional Services Teams
• Facilitate business reviews with partner executives in collaboration with partner marketing and supply chain teams
• Execute crossteam alignment with Marketing Supply Chain Finance and other departments to ensure success of company initiatives
• Achieve categoryspecific revenue and gross margin growth objectives
• Manage and report on key category metrics against plan
• Track & assess sales performance and implement plans to enhance product margins and overall profitability
• Drive to targets for specific categories and brands by utilizing Zones breadth of marketing vehicles
• Leverage partner programs to maximize profitability; drive awareness through Zones resources and Zones communication vehicles
• Achieve category Partner Contribution (PC) goals
• Volume Incentive Rebates (VIR): Understand targets and track via weekly updates; enable sales to achieve targets through marketing incentives initiatives and communication
• PartnerFunded Headcount: Recommend and implement investment proposals for strategic partners supported by compelling returnoninvestment results
• Negotiate net new VIR programs based on Zones sales revenue
• Negotiate targets for existing partners based on market research and industry growth
• Understand and implement partner programs to drive increased profitability for the category
• Evangelize deal registration programs to drive adoption across sales segments
• Execute acquisition programs available from the partner community to drive client adoption
• Identify and implement additional programs to facilitate sales adoption (Tradein Demo ProofofConcept Competitive Displacement etc.
• Align and collaborate with partner marketing for of all marketing programs to ensure adherence to marketing strategies with partners
• Demonstrate fluency with and effective management of key financial metrics and category assets
• Review category pricing strategy and gross margin yields; initiate changes to maximize profitability
• Review aged inventory with Supply Chain team; facilitate plans to mitigate aging and the disposition of distressed inventory (pricing marketing)
• Review aged receivables; leverage relationships with partners to gain closure
• Serve as the category expert
• Review industry velocity products and make recommendations on stocking and pricing strategy
• Conduct formal business reviews and present category/brand trends on growth market share product mix client mix and other key metrics
• Conduct market research attend trainings and obtain knowledge to execute the category strategy
• Build credibility with partners by demonstrating category expertise
• Manage overall partner incentive strategy
• Establish and execute incentives that support the category strategy
• Oversee administration from development to payment
• Manage certifications and authorizations required by strategic partners
• Make recommendations on key areas to advance Zones authorization levels with key partners
• Act as the facilitator to resolve issues with partners and internal operations team
• Contract facilitation and renewal
• Product classifications
• General orchestration of cross departmental issues
• Develop category business plan
• of product merchandising activity
• Implementation of pricing strategy for products and categories
• Quarterly business reviews
• Volume incentive rebate tracking
• Weekly update/reporting to Sr. Management on progress/KPIs

• BA/BS degree in business administration information technology marketing or related fieldor4 years of relevant experience

• Experience building and driving product strategies and tactics
• Proven analytical capabilities and product management skills
• Excellent product and program management skills communication proficiency and motivation to deliver results in a fastpaced environment.
• Composure judgment negotiation skills influence creativity and leadership skills are essential.
• Experience managing the entire technology product life cycle from strategic planning to tactical
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Proficient in Computer Terminology and Technologies
• A solid understanding of IT solutions and a history of creating highly successful business plans
• Ability to identify and analyze quantitative and qualitative data on product trends and vendor feedback to continue to improve processes
• Demonstrated ability to develop and nurture relationships across all levels of an organization
• Solid understanding of key financial metrics and category asset management
• Solid understanding of Excel database management pivot tables and executive dashboards