Category Manager

The Category Manager owns the business performance of assigned categories, with accountability for sales growth, gross margin, inventory productivity, assortment optimization, vendor performance, and customer satisfaction. This role develops and executes category strategies that drive profitable growth while delivering a differentiated and compelling customer experience. The Category Manager has the responsibility for delivering financial results, managing risk, identifying growth opportunities, and ensuring customers have access to innovative, high-quality products that support Pet Food Express's mission. The ideal candidate is passionate about delivering exceptional merchandise assortments and experiences to our customers. This role requires a highly analytical and strategic thinker who can balance customer needs, financial objectives, inventory productivity, and brand positioning while making sound business decisions. Ongoing responsibilities include meeting sales and margin goals, managing inventory investments, creating accurate forecasts, optimizing assortments, developing pricing strategies, identifying growth opportunities, and building strong vendor partnerships that support long-term business success. This individual must be a take-charge and trustworthy leader who is not afraid to make high-level decisions and take ownership of business outcomes. Please Note: This position is a hybrid role, involving on-site work at our corporate headquarters in Concord, CA. Candidates who are fully remote or outside of reasonable commuting distance will not be considered at this time. Responsibilities : Category Management: • Own the financial performance of assigned categories, including sales, margin, inventory turns, GMROI, and market share objectives. • Develop annual category plans and business strategies to achieve growth and profitability targets. • Serve as the business owner and subject matter expert for assigned categories, making recommendations that balance customer needs, financial objectives, inventory productivity, and brand positioning. • Regularly evaluate category performance and adjust assortment, pricing, promotional, and inventory strategies to improve results. • Analyze sales trends, inventory productivity, promotional performance, and profitability metrics to make data-driven assortment and pricing decisions. • Use customer, competitive, and market insights to identify opportunities that improve assortment productivity, customer satisfaction, and category growth. • Identify opportunities to grow category performance through innovation, trend identification, customer insights, and competitive analysis. • Lead private label development within assigned categories, including identifying opportunities, evaluating product concepts, partnering with vendors, and managing product introductions that support category growth, profitability, and customer value. • Develop deep expertise in assigned categories, products, customer needs, market dynamics, and vendor capabilities. • Monitor industry trends, competitive activity, emerging brands, and innovation opportunities through market research, trade shows, publications, and vendor partnerships. • Partner with Purchasing, Inventory Planning, and Replenishment teams to ensure inventory investments align with business objectives and customer demand. • Manage category projects from concept through execution, including new item launches, assortment changes, promotions, planogram updates, and discontinued items. • Collaborate with Marketing, Stores, Visual Merchandising, Supply Chain, and other cross-functional partners to ensure successful execution of category strategies. Vendor Management: • Develop, maintain, and strengthen strategic vendor relationships that support category growth and customer value. • Negotiate favorable terms, costs, rebates, promotional funding, transportation agreements, and other opportunities that improve category profitability. • Conduct regular vendor performance reviews and business evaluations to ensure accountability and continuous improvement. • Identify and develop new vendor relationships that bring innovation, differentiation, and value to the Pet Food Express assortment. • Communicate product, assortment, and vendor updates to key internal stakeholders. • Partner with Purchasing and Replenishment teams to resolve inventory, supply chain, and vendor performance issues. • Support Quality Control initiatives and product issue resolution as needed. Team Development and Leadership • Mentor and support the development of Category Associates and Assistants by sharing merchandising expertise, category knowledge, and best practices to strengthen team capabilities and execution. • Foster a collaborative learning environment that encourages knowledge sharing, continuous improvement, and professional growth. • Lead projects and cross-functional initiatives while ensuring alignment with company goals and objectives. • Balance multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining a high level of execution and accountability. Qualifications: • Strong business acumen with the ability to understand and manage category profitability and performance drivers. • Exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to translate data into actionable business strategies. • Strong financial and merchandising aptitude, including pricing, inventory management, forecasting, and assortment planning. • Proven ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. • Thorough understanding of retail merchandising, category management, vendor negotiations, and competitive positioning. • Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring capabilities with a commitment to developing others. • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. • Highly organized with strong attention to detail and execution. • Proven negotiation and influencing skills. • Must be a take-charge and trustworthy individual, not afraid to make high-level decisions. PFE Perks: Pet Friendly Workplace: Bring your well-behaved pup! Grow with us: Many potential career paths and options for advancement within the company Generous in-store employee discount that extends to your family A full range of health insurance options: Medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability insurance. FSA and HSA options. 401(k) plan with employer match Get Rewarded: Employee referral bonuses. Competitive Paid Time Off The salary range for this position is expected to be $80,000/yr - 100,000/yr. Pet Food Express determines starting salary based on many factors, including but not limited to, local market rate, the qualified pool of candidates, internal compensation practices, a candidate’s actual skills and experience. About the Company Pet Food Express is a leading California-based pet specialty retailer with a passion for improving the lives of pets and their owners. Our philosophy revolves around the belief that pets are part of the family, deserving of the best care possible. Since our inception, Pet Food Express has been committed to making a positive impact on the communities we serve by promoting responsible pet ownership, supporting various animal welfare initiatives, and ensuring pets are happy, healthy and homed. With over 60 locations across the state, Pet Food Express has become a trusted destination for pet parents seeking high-quality products and personalized advice from knowledgeable and dedicated staff. This job summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work associates/leaders assigned to this job perform. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. Pet Food Express is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants based on race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. This applies to all Pet Food Express activities, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, compensation, assignment, training, promotion, performance evaluation, discipline and discharge. Pet Food Express also provides reasonable accommodation of religion and disability in accordance with applicable law. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Pet Food Express is a place where everyone can learn and grow. However you identify and whatever your background, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come to work every day. For applicants in our San Francisco, or Los Angeles locations: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, as well as the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, we will consider for employment, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in a manner consistent with the law.