Category Manager - Lawn & Garden

We are seeking an experienced Category Manager to lead the growth and profitability of our Lawn & Garden product categories. If you’re a category or purchasing professional who loves finding growth opportunities, negotiating great programs, and seeing your strategy show up in the results, we’d like to hear from you.

Own Category Strategy & Growth

• →Develop and execute category plans focused on sales growth, margin improvement, and profitability.
• →Manage product assortments, from new items to discontinued products.
• →Identify market trends, competitive activity, and opportunities to expand categories and add new product lines.
• →Analyze category performance, including sales, margins, inventory turns, and vendor profitability.

Build & Manage Vendor Partnerships

• →Serve as the primary contact for assigned vendors.
• →Negotiate pricing, program terms, and promotional support.
• →Evaluate vendor performance, product costs, lead times, and service levels.

Drive Pricing & Profitability

• →Develop competitive pricing strategies based on costs, competitors, and market conditions.
• →Evaluate promotional programs, rebates, and vendor incentives to maximize profitability. 

Support Sales & Marketing

• →Partner with Sales Management on category-specific sales initiatives.
• →Coordinate vendor promotions, seasonal offerings, and sales events.
• →Equip the sales team with product knowledge and market insights.
• →Participate in customer visits, vendor meetings, trade shows, and industry events.

Manage Inventory & Product Performance

• →Work with Purchasing to set stock levels and replenishment strategies.
• →Minimize slow-moving and obsolete inventory.
• →Coordinate new item setup, product information, and vendor program implementation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and financial management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with ability to work across departments and manage competing priorities.
• Willingness to travel approximately 10%.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in category management, purchasing, merchandising, or vendor management.
• Experience in Lawn & Garden, Outdoor Living, Pest Control, or related consumer products industries (strongly preferred).
• Experience in wholesale distribution or retail merchandising.

• Grow category sales and gross profit through smart strategy and strong execution.
• Negotiate confidently and build vendor programs that create real value.
• Use data to guide decisions on pricing, assortment, and inventory.
• Take ownership of results and look for ways to improve.