Category Manager

The Category Manager will be responsible for leading a cross-functional team within the Product Management Team. They will be responsible for overseeing the strategic review, title selection, and execution of adult book categories across select channels/chains. In addition, they will be responsible for ensuring departmental goals align with company objectives through strategic planning, resource allocation, performance monitoring, and employee development. This role owns category performance by managing assortments, terms of sale, distribution strategies, and title level planning, while serving as a key partner to Sales, Merchandising, and Operations teams. The Category Manager combines market insight, data analysis, and customer knowledge to optimize category growth and ensure assortments align with retailer objectives and consumer demand. Channel and management responsibilities subject to change as needed.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Set team goals in accordance with Readerlink's strategic vision.
• Develop strategies coordinating with internal and external partners to build assortments with the greatest ROI for retailers and Readerlink based on customer strategies and goals.
• Train, mentor and manage day-to-day responsibility for team to ensure best in class practices, productivity and profitability.

• Oversee team's assigned book categories, developing and executing category strategies that support overall business objectives and customer-specific goals.
• Conduct regular category and title-level reviews to evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and recommend adjustments to assortments, pricing, and distribution.
• Develop category plans that incorporate market trends, seasonality, promotional calendars, and customer strategies.
• Negotiate terms with and on-board new publishers and external vendors.

• Participate in publisher product presentations and prepare summary reports and reference materials to support discussions with the publishers, guiding feedback and product development.
• Review selected titles for inclusion with team in category assortments, balancing editorial quality, commercial performance, and customer requirements.
• Manage lifecycle planning for titles, including new releases, reorders, markdowns, and exits.

• Support Sales teams by providing category insights, data-driven recommendations, and timely responses to customer requests.
• Customize assortments and category presentations to meet the unique needs of specific accounts.
• Collaborate closely with Shoppers Marketing, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Inventory Planning, and Operations to ensure accurate execution of category plans.
• Align with Shoppers Marketing team on category-level initiatives and merchandising strategies.
• Participate in customer meetings, line reviews, and presentations as the category subject matter expert when required.

• Analyze sales, margin, inventory turns, and other key performance indicators at both the category and title level.
• Prepare and deliver clear recommendations based on data analysis, consumer trends, and retailer feedback.
• Monitor category performance against forecasts and adjust plans as needed to improve results.
• Monitor and analyze space productivity to identify trends, risks, and opportunities, and deliver data-driven insights and recommendations to key stakeholders.
• Develop PowerPoint presentations highlighting business performance, trends, and upcoming events or new releases for publishing partners, internal sales meetings, and retail customers.
• Must be able to handle multiple tasks and work appropriate hours to keep projects on schedule.
• Help build and maintain long-term relationships with our customers and publishers.
• Self-manage, prioritize, multi-task and work cross-functionally with other departments.
• Create presentations based on trends and upcoming events/new releases for our customers.
• Other duties may be assigned, directed, or requested.

What You Will Need:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing or a related field is required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in the sales field or buying experience is preferred.
• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in client service or vendor relations is desired.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience with Microsoft Power BI is preferred.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize multiple projects/requests.
• Excellent interpersonal skills - in person, phone, email, presentations, etc.
• Adaptive, team player, and aggressive problem solver.
• High energy level with the ability to keep multiple projects on schedule.
• Self-starter with a high energy level, with the ability to prioritize and keep multiple projects on schedule.
• Strong to advanced experience in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook is required.
• Must have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to speak with all levels of the organization and outside partners.
• Ability to communicate complicated information to others.
• Must be proficient in basic mathematics: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Ability to do algebra, calculate figures and amounts, and apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• A methodical and organized approach to problem-solving.
• The work performed is in an office environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate at low decibels.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced, team environment.
• Must be able to work independently on tactics and in high-functioning groups in a strategic direction.
• Employee is occasionally exposed to vibration and dust.

Health Plans -Medical, Dental & Prescription

Flexible Spending Accounts - Health & Dependent Care

Disability, Life and Accident Insurance

ReaderLink is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status. EOE/Minorities/Female/Disabled/Veteran.
ReaderLink is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation to assist with completing the electronic application, please email your request to [emailprotected], or call: (708) 356-3737.