Category Manager

About Us: Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, TEC has 30+ locations from Seattle to San Diego to the Midwest, serving thousands of customers across Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota.
TEC Equipment features Mack and Volvo heavy-duty trucks, Hino and Isuzu medium duty trucks, Wabash trailers and Cottrell auto transport trailers.
We offer a large and desirable inventory of new Mack and Volvo heavy-duty trucks and all makes of used trucks.
Our full-service line-up also features quality parts, state-of-the-art service, collision centers and fuel, leasing/rental, financing, and insurance.
Our locations are authorized service centers for Mack, Volvo, Cummins, Meritor, Eaton and Fuller warranties.
TEC truly offers the convenience of one-stop shopping for all trucking-related needs.
Overview: The Category Manager is responsible for the product strategy for the truck and trailer parts category.
Accountabilities include planning, pricing, marketing, sourcing and supply management.
Using data and technical expertise from across the company and the broader industry, the Category Manager will drive merchandising strategies that maximize customer solution options and financial contribution, while meeting key business objectives such as quality, availability, and security of supply.
The Category Manager actively manages the strategic supplier relationship, leveraging input from buyers, parts managers and other stakeholders.
Responsibilities: Collaborate with corporate team and field operations to gather customer needs and develop short-term and long-term strategies for assigned truck and trailer parts categories.
Lead periodic, cross-functional category reviews that set the product pricing, marketing, sourcing, and supply management strategies to drive sales and gross profit margins.
Leverage sales trends, spend analytics, market intelligence, and competitive information to drive fact-based decision-making.
Accountable for full lifecycle management of all parts in assigned categories, from initial stock orders to end-of-life.
Optimize pricing to maximize sales and financial contribution for assigned categories.
Manage promotions, marketing, supplier training and other supplier collaboration, and parts showroom merchandising plans.
Work with field operations and support functions to extend and/or rationalize product lines to meet and/or drive future customer demand.
Conduct moderate and highly complex sourcing projects using generally accepted tools and processes, including but not limited to: product and service specification definition; supplier research and qualification; requests for information; requests for quote; auctions; award of business; implementation.
Engage with strategic partner suppliers to ensure optimal performance and value.
Develop formal supplier business review schedule for strategic partners and conduct reviews, engaging appropriate supplier stakeholders.
Identify and complete action items to drive continuous improvement in supplier/customer relationship.
Shift spend based on quality, availability, delivery performance, or other industry dynamics.
Develop tools to monitor and measure category performance against objectives.
Communicate results to TEC Equipment stakeholders.
Assist in the development of standard category management tools and processes.
Implement and train appropriate team members on tools and processes.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, operations and technology, finance or other relevant field.
Minimum of five years of relevant experience in category management, strategic sourcing, purchasing, supply chain management.
Experience with professional category management including product line strategy reviews, planning, and product specification creation across a series of categories.
Expertise in supplier management; able to engage with suppliers to drive current performance and future product line technology and innovation.
Expertise in product pricing and marketing; embrace fact based decision making and naturally seeks to leverage sales data, spend analytics, and competitive intelligence.
Strong knowledge of multi-step strategic sourcing processes.
Professional communication skills, including oral, and formal and informal written.
Fluent in MS Office applications.
Expert skill with analytical tools (MS Excel, MS Power BI, other).
Expert negotiation preparation and execution skills.
Ability to collect and analyze diverse data and use data to create compelling recommendations.
Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of an organization, from front-line retail team members to executives.
Strong interpersonal and leadership skills within a collaborative team environment.
Ability to influence without authority.
Self-motivated, curious, high learning agility.
Benefits: TEC provides our employees and their families with a full menu of health, wellness, and retirement benefits.
New hires are eligible to participate in TEC Equipment’s comprehensive benefits plan the first of the month following your date of hire.
Choice of two comprehensive medical plan options that include prescription drug coverage Choice of two dental plans that cover preventative and diagnostic care, basic and major services, and orthodontia for children Vision care, discounted hearing exams, and hearing aids 401(k) retirement savings plan with company contribution Life, accident, and disability insurance Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Education assistance Seven paid holidays, vacation accrual of at least 48 hours per year, and paid sick Statements: All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all applicable screenings.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.