In your role as Category Manager – Hardgoods-Motorized, Electronics, Toys, Hardware, Sporting Goods, Office and Furniture, at The Alaska Commercial Company (ACC), you lead a category team that strategizes to deliver market share targets and build consumer loyalty. You also achieve sales, inventory turns, and gross profit targets in assigned merchandise departments. Your role is to source, price, and market product to profitably grow the assigned department to the gross profit line. You will build vendor alliances and programs that build the long-term health of the assigned merchandise departments.

Joining ACC gives you the opportunity for growth and development throughout the company, an attractive and competitive salary and benefits package, and to be part of a dynamic and diverse culture.

ACC is a subsidiary of The North West Company International (NWCI), a leading retailer of under-served rural communities and urban neighborhood markets in the following regions: Northern Canada, Western Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific islands, and the Caribbean. Our stores offer a broad range of products and services with an emphasis on food. Our value offer is to be the best local shopping choice for everyday household and local lifestyle needs. Check out www.alaskacommercial.com for more information.

Your Role:

• Responsible for supervising the department(s) Assistant Category Manager and Associate Category Manager
• Continually evaluate all available vendors and select the appropriate vendors based on the following criteria: cost, terms, service level, time in transit (cost of interest and necessary inventory level), and quality
• Ensure that all necessary tasks are done each month to make sure that margin budgets are met for each period
• Develop strategic marketing plans including advertising, in-store specials, promotional and special buys
• Perform category assessments on all categories and implement changes necessary as outlined in the plan
  • Category plans must be done once a year with a chosen vendor partner, assigning roles, strategies, and goals that meet format strategies, including all major financial performance goals of profitable sales, costing, pricing, and assortment
• Assist in setting the initial sales, gross margin, and inventory forecasts used in developing the final operating budget
  • Report on P&L results and take corrective action as needed monthly
• Learn all aspects of the system and reporting tools that are required to perform job duties
  • Ensure employees receive the necessary training on system and reporting tools to properly perform their job duties
• Collaborate with supporting teams, such as Marketing

Desired Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business or equivalent from a four-year college or three years related experience or training OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Extensive MS Office Suite experience including above-average knowledge of Excel
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills
• Aptitude with successful negotiations
• 5 years of retail experience in a supervisory role, retail management, and/or previous purchasing experience
• Experience with Profit and Loss statement review, budgeting, and operating statement review experience
• Ability to problem-solve complex issues, and know when to escalate
• Strong customer service skills
• Financial analysis capabilities
• Ability to negotiate with vendors to meet Category targets and objectives