The Associate Category Manager is accountable for creating and implementing the vision, strategy and direction for the specific category within the total category portfolio as well as supporting and executing the overall portfolio product and category strategy.

KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS

• Sales, Profit and Inventory Targets
• Effective management of Open to Buy and Forecasting
• Effective management of Merchandising Calendar and Inventory Position
• Positive Consumer response and brand-appropriate product selection
• Store Support ticket resolution

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Functional

• Develop and execute category strategies to meet and exceed sales, margin and inventory goals.
• Build a compelling assortment of private-brand and national brand products for Indigo and Indigo.ca.
• Effectively manage the Open to Buy budget and item-level demand forecasting
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to successfully launch and execute category strategic goals.
• Manage diverse vendor network, building strong relationships and favourable terms, requiring strong negotiation skills.

• Seek out and identify new opportunities to grow and expand the category by benchmarking the competition and finding new categories, products and best practices.
• Ensure the completion of team deliverables and set/adhere to team budgets, as applicable
• Act as an advocate for the customer by placing them at the forefront of all design and decision-making processes.
• Attend trade shows to identify new products, research product development and/or design of products as required.
• Proactively identify and anticipate customer expectations and needs
• Challenge the status quo and consistently identify areas for improvement, diagnose issues and work to resolve them

People

• Bring out the best in others, empower and constructively stretch talent
• Give authentic feedback on performance and potential
• Collaborate with others to drive flexible and iterative solutions, quickly and easily
• Share technical knowledge with others and actively seek to learn from those more knowledgeable than yourself
• Help others see the impacts of their efforts and proactively engage other functions to get input
• Encourage others to freely share their point of view and be open to feedback

Cultural

• Act as an advocate for the customer by placing them at the forefront of all design and decision-making processes
• Challenge the status quo and consistently identify areas for improvement, diagnose issues and working to resolve them
• Model Indigo's beliefs and convey a positive image in everything you do
• Celebrate diversity of thought and have an open mindset
• Take an active role in fostering a culture of continual learning, taking risks without the fear of making mistakes
• Embrace, champion and influence change through your team and/or the organization

SCOPE

Reports to: Category Manager or Category Director.

Manager once Removed (MOR): Category Director or Category VP

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

• Planning Managers and Assistant Planning Managers
• Stores and Retail Operations
• Creative Studio
• Product Development and Design
• Visual Merchandising and Store Design
• Supply Chain, Logistics, and Distribution Centre
• Marketing & Online

External:

• Vendors

Work Experience / Education / Certifications

• Post-secondary education in business or related field
• Experience in the Retail Industry
• Minimum 3 years' experience in buying, product development and category management field with progressive accountability

Competencies / Skills / Attributes

• Proven ability to build productive business relationships with both internal and external partners
• Proven ability to negotiate effectively with external business partners
• Strong organizational skills with ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and reacting quickly to shifting priorities
• Excellent communication skills
• Passion for the category
• Expert in Microsoft Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint)

Other (travel, Bilingual, etc.)

• Some travel may be required to trade shows, regional stores and promotional events (approximately 20%)

At Indigo, we are committed to our communities, our customers, and each other; together we can make a positive impact. We know that fostering diversity and inclusion brings out your full potential and creates a joyful and welcoming environment for everyone. We are driven to be an equitable employer, which highly values your diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that you, in all your uniqueness, belong at Indigo. We welcome all applicants and encourage applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, a person of colour, LGBTQ2+ and people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request to individuals who self-identify as having a disability or special need. Please contact Human Resources at [email protected] if you require an accommodation at any time during the recruitment process.

WELCOME HOME

Dedicated to telling stories and creating experiences, Indigo is always looking for bright, energetic and customer-focused people who can help bring our exciting mission to life in one of our more than 170 Indigo, Indigospirit, Chapters and Coles stores across Canada. We offer a variety of exciting opportunities at our retail stores, distribution centres, and home office for people who share our passions and want to be part of a dynamic and enriching culture.

WHO WE ARE

• We love books and all things beautiful
• We are Canada's Cultural Department Store
• Books are our heart and our soul and Great Books are JUST the Beginning…

We play by the following rules:

• We exist to add joy to our customers' lives each and every time they interact with us and our products
• Our job is to create joyful moments for our customers
• We treat each other the way we'd treat a valued friend
• We inspire each other to do our best work
• We seek to ignite creativity and innovation every day
• We give back to the communities in which we operate