Associate Category Manager

Job summary

The Associate Category Manager will own category strategy, assortment planning, and vendor relationships to drive revenue and profitability. They will collaborate cross-functionally to ensure effective in-store execution and translate customer insights into actionable business plans.

Job details

We are looking for an Associate Category Manager to join our growing team in Kelowna, BC. In this role, you won't just manage products—you'll own portfolios, develop category strategies, and lead initiatives that improve performance and drive revenue across our network of stores. Working closely with Marketing, Operations, Finance, and Design, you’ll be responsible for turning insights into impact. You will lead both sourcing and program development in your assigned categories, building the right assortment, setting strategic pricing, developing promotions, negotiating with vendors, and collaborating cross-functionally to ensure effective in-store execution. Your role is pivotal in transforming customer experience, increasing basket size, and positioning Canco as a convenience retail leader. Key Responsibilities: * Own category strategy, assortment planning, pricing, promotions, and vendor relationships for assigned categories. * Translate customer insights, market trends, and performance data into actionable business plans and revenue-driving programs. * Develop supplier partnerships that enhance value, improve margins, and supportCanco'sbrand positioning. * Lead end-to-end sourcing: product selection, negotiations, contract terms, and vendor onboarding. * Collaborate with store operations and marketing to support flawless in-store and digital execution. * Develop promotional calendars in partnership with marketing to support seasonal programs and new product launches. * Maintain ongoing P&L ownership—review category KPIs andoptimize forperformance and profitability. * Support store planogram development in partnership with design and operations. * Contribute to team planning cycles including annual budgeting, promotional forecasting, and new product evaluation. * Participate in business reviews with suppliers and internal stakeholders to drive alignment and continuous improvement. * Travel periodically to Canco locations to gather insights, audit programs, and support local execution. What You Bring: * Relevant experience in Category Management, Product Management, Sourcing, or Buying—preferably in convenience, grocery, liquor, or QSR channels. * Strong commercial and financial acumen withsomeexperienceoptimizingP&Ls. * Analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into business decisions. * Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and bring ideas to life from concept through execution. * Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills. * A builder's mindset: proactive, entrepreneurial, and comfortable with change and ambiguity. * Intermediate to advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills; familiarity with POS data and inventory tools. * Experience with product assortment planning, merchandising, and supplier management. * Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

What you’ll do

The Associate Category Manager will own category strategy, assortment planning, and vendor relationships to drive revenue and profitability. They will collaborate cross-functionally to ensure effective in-store execution and translate customer insights into actionable business plans.

Requirements

Candidates should have relevant experience in category management, sourcing, or buying, preferably within convenience or retail channels. Strong commercial acumen, analytical skills, and proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint are required for this role.

Listed skills

• Product management · Preferred
• Data analysis · Preferred
• Microsoft Excel · Preferred
• Negotiation · Preferred
• Cross-Functional Collaboration · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Category Management
• Product Management
• Sourcing
• Buying
• Financial Acumen
• Data Analysis
• Negotiation
• Vendor Management
• Assortment Planning
• Pricing Strategy
• Promotional Planning
• P&L Management
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• Merchandising
• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Retail Operations
• Supplier Management
• Product Assortment
• Category Strategy
• Profit And Loss (P&L) Management
• Organizational Skills
• Business Decisions
• Planning
• Program Development
• Microsoft Excel
• Budgeting
• Auditing
• Customer Service
• Communication
• Continuous Improvement Process
• Finance
• Forecasting
• Leadership
• Marketing
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Market Trend
• Marketing Operations
• New Product Development
• Operations
• Planogram
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Relationship Building
• Vendor Relationship Management

Job areas

• Retail
• Management & Leadership
• Marketing
• Finance & Accounting
• Data & Analytics
• Associate Category Manager
• Procurement / Sourcing Manager
• Supply, Distribution and Related Managers
• Purchasing Managers