Category Manager - TopCo

Job Description:

PetWise Inc. is an industry leader of smart, stylish, innovative and environmentally responsible pet products. We were founded in 1990 and our pet products are available across multiple retail and online channels throughout the world. We offer a collegial culture, opportunities for career growth and competitive compensation and benefits. Come join our team and help us design the future of the company.

Job Summary:

Category Management is a key function within the PetWise organization, responsible for sales strategy, planning, and go to market execution across our branded and own brand business. This team will serve as the key interchange and partner between the PetWise sales, product, and marketing teams. The work includes converting advanced analytics to insights, harvesting category and channel intelligence, partnering with sales to develop channel and customer strategies, and establishing relationships with buyers and sourcing managers.

TopCo is a group purchasing organization in the grocery channel. The Category Manager, TopCo role will be subject matter category expert on all things TopCo. Key areas of focus will be partnering with sales on the day-to-day execution, analyzing business performance, developing merchandising plans, product line reviews, sourcing and new item introduction, account presentations, and general activation with the TopCo account manager, third party sales reps, and TopCo (employed) category managers. This role will partner with product managers for sourcing and new introduction.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop relationships with key TopCo stakeholders to gain trust and credibility as the PetWise category leader
• Partner on the strategy and item assortment for each pet category at TopCo
• Be category experts: Garner a deep understanding on sell through performance, identify insights and trends, customer placement / voids, share best practices
• Collaborate and align on KPIs across retail pricing, promos, placement; track and report on these metrics
• Identify new items with TopCo through trends, customer feedback, partnering with sourcing teams – while also managing out underperforming items
• Partner with sales on opportunities that come through from TopCo stakeholders

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree or relevant work experience.
• 5+ years Buying/Merchandising/Product development experience – ideally in Pet, CPG, or General Merchandise industry.
• Proficient at presenting/selling directly to key customers.
• Experience sourcing products domestically & internationally.
• Excellent organizational skills: office space both physically and electronically.
• Savvy communication skills with intuitive approach to varied personalities
• Interest and skill set in analytics; both financial and research related
• Commitment to high professional ethical standards
• Microsoft office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams
• Consumer product design & detailed spec creation expertise
• Retail math competency: margins, pricing structures, trade
• Ability to travel as required domestic; ~20% estimated.

ABOUT US:

PetWise is an innovation-driven organization poised for growth that embraces the vision to delight its customers while outperforming its competitors. The Company is also committed to sustainability, has innovation in its DNA and is an industry leader in the development and branding of smart, stylish and innovative pet products. The Company’s has a highly diversified brand portfolio which includes: SmartyKat, goDog, Sherpa, TrustyPup, Pet Factory, FurHaven, Petlinks, Pawscout, Kitty Sift and PoochPlanet, and is a category leader in pet toys, cat products, beds and travel accessories. PetWise embraces diverse and passionate people who thrive in dynamic environments, embrace continuous improvement and who uphold PetWise’s values and, of course, LOVE pets. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Novato, CA, with additional offices in Ferndale, WA, McAllen, Tx, Mundelein, IL; the Company has its product development, manufacturing and 3PL capabilities across the continental U.S. and Canada. They also procure some of its products overseas in China, Hong Kong and Mexico. PetWise offers a fun, flexible, and pet-friendly working environment where employees are empowered to help design the future of the Company. For more information on PetWise, visit https://www.petwisebrands.com/.

SALARY RANGE:

The base range for this position is 80K – 120K. The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include, as applicable, the applicant’s qualifications for the position; years of relevant experience; specific and unique skills; level of education attained; certifications or other professional licenses held; other legitimate, non-discriminatory business factors specific to the position; and the geographic location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will perform the job.