Category Manager

Who is Grand & Toy?

For over 140 years, Grand & Toy has partnered with customers to change the way Canadian businesses work and help them compete. And what we do for others, we do for ourselves. We’re a passionate team of diverse individuals who are focused on coming together to bring positive transformation to our customers and vendor partners by setting new standards for ourselves and our teams.  We embrace transformation and innovate for customers and partners, and our employees as well.  At Grand & Toy, you can be part of the change by learning and growing along with the business.

About the role

As the business owner of a set complex categories, you will be responsible for developing and implementing business activities that drive your assigned categories to achieve/exceed financial, operational and market targets. You will develop integrated category and vendor strategies within the context of Grand & Toy’s enterprise strategies and will be accountable for assortment management, product marketing, merchandising and forecasting as well as developing effective strategic relationships with our supplier partners.

What will I do?/

Plan and manage the category portfolio (35%)

• Manage strategic and key vendor strategic relationships
• Develop and execute private label growth plans
• Strategically plan and manage a portfolio of products, defined by a more complex go to market strategy and sales cycle, targeting key customer segments in a B2B environment
• Develop multi-channel assortment and merchandising strategies to drive revenue and meet category, Line of Business and business goals (eg e-comm, Printed Ordering Guide)
• Partner with site optimization team to drive customer experience, revenue/profitability on website
• Develop and manage pricing and profitability strategies and tactics to maximize category growth and profitability
• Partner with site optimization team to create category experience on G&T.com that drives a high level of customer engagement while supporting key revenue/profitability initiatives
• Plan and implement Line Reviews/category plans that deliver quality and time standards

• Benchmark strategies and programs against best-in-class vendors, competitors and work with and obtain input from sales representatives and customers to maintain a leading-edge position in the categories
• Conduct ongoing analysis of product mix to ensure the assortment consistently meets and/or exceeds revenue and margin objectives
• Effectively present category strategies and objectives to direct reports, team members and cross-functional counterparts regularly to generate excitement, momentum and create a compelling vision for the team to strive towards

Category advocacy and synergy (35%)

• Liaise with ODP counterparts and other Grand & Toy teams to ensure that we are developing and executing the best merchandising programs.
• Work closely with Merchandising Teams (Canada and US) and counterparts in Supply Chain/Logistics, Finance, etc. to develop and implement programs
• Communicate assortment adjustments, pricing changes, and promotional activity to various departments to ensure synergy across divisions and teams

Product knowledge & Industry knowledge development (30%)

• Work effectively with vendors to evaluate the performance of current products, develop new products, and plan promotional activity that will drive sales and grow revenue
• Use intuition, experience, market trend information, and fact-based analysis to develop a comprehensive understanding of the competitive landscape, effectively create ideas, implement changes and innovations
• Work effectively with vendors to evaluate the performance of current products, develop new products, and plan promotional activity that will drive sales and grow revenue
• Use intuition, experience, market trend information, and fact-based analysis to develop a comprehensive understanding of the competitive landscape, effectively create ideas, implement changes and innovations

*The position responsibilities outlined above are in no way to be construed as all encompassing. Other duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may be required and/or assigned as necessaryt.

• A business-related university degree
• 5 to 7 years in a category management, brand management, solution development role with B2B components
• Ability to manage multiple and competing priorities through effective organizational and time management skills
• Above average communication skills, both oral and written
• Solid negotiation and diplomacy skills
• Good analytical skills and solid technical skills (Microsoft 365)
• Creativity, strong organizational skills, strategic thinker, and advanced leadership skills
• Experience working with global suppliers is an asset

What does Grand & Toy offer?

Grand & Toy offers a competitive salary and benefits package based on education and experience, along with other perks such as our associate/corporate discounts and reward programs for management positions. We proudly provide comprehensive training for all new associates.

We celebrate employment equity and diversity. We are committed to providing accommodations for persons with disabilities. If you require accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.