Category Manager - Windows & Exterior Doors

A Carter Lumber Category Manager - Windows & Exterior Doors is responsible for leading category strategy, vendor partnerships, and overall category performance, addressing location specific needs, and driving day-to-day activities that help grow the categories. Ensures our vendors provide the best combination of quality, service and price to our stores and customers. Effective communication with the field and internal departments is mandatory for the success of this position.

This is an onsite position located at our corporate office in Kent, OH. Candidates must reside within commuting distance or be willing to relocate.

Requirements:

• Previous purchasing or category management experience in the building materials industry is preferred
• Experience negotiating with vendors and managing product categories
• Ability to cultivate and sustain strategic relationships
• Strong communication skills with field teams and internal departments
• Exceptional problem-solving abilities
• Ability to review documents for accuracy
• Ability to multitask, organize, prioritize and coordinate work activities
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong proficiency of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, and Excel
• Occasional overnight travel when necessary

Responsibilities:
Purchasing

• Lead vendor proposal reviews, negotiations, and other category initiatives.
• Ability to review vendor proposals, analyze and make recommendations and determinations based on the criteria below:
  • Best in class pricing
  • Volume rebates: quarterly, semi-annually and yearly
  • Cash discounts and payment terms
  • Growth incentives
  • Relationship Marketing Events
• Submit and review quotes to help drive buying decisions based on products that best fit our customer and store needs
• Confirms on-time delivery of quality products at competitive costs to site locations
• Assists in forecasting product needs by analyzing trends and inventory levels to make recommend buying decisions
• Helps develop & recommends vendor programs to the Director to increase rebate dollars by product category

Product Management

• Reviews and analyzes purchases, turns, and rebates by product category
• Reviews and manages SKUs and product descriptions to ensure consistency and eliminate duplication by category
• Reviews and monitors program compliance

Store Support

• Provides stores with product information, pricing questions, availability and lead times
• Resolves store product issues including shipments, quality and defective material by communicating with store and vendor
• Assists in negotiating and quoting large projects
• Develops customer programs and negotiates program parameters with suppliers based on the needs of the customer and store
• Planning, tracking and maintaining co-op fund balances for relationship events and category growth

Benefits (full-time employees):

• Health, Dental, Vision (Single and Family Plans) available after 30 days of employment 
• Short and Long-Term Disability 
• Company-paid life insurance and AD&D 
• Optional supplemental life insurance 
• Company-match 401(k) 
• Vacation time and paid holidays 
• Room for growth; we promote from within! 

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