Senior Director of Category Management

Primary Location Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota Job ID R111793 The Senior Director Category Management leads the enterprise category management strategy and operating model, ensuring alignment between commercial objectives, customer needs, sourcing strategies, supplier partnerships, and business priorities. This role drives long-term category portfolio performance by overseeing category leadership teams, establishing enterprise standards and governance, and integrating category investments across business units to accelerate growth, profitability, and competitive advantage. Essential Functions Define the enterprise category management vision, portfolio strategy, and multi-year roadmap, ensuring alignment with organizational growth objectives, customer needs, supplier capabilities, and market opportunities. Lead category management leaders across multiple categories or business segments, establishing priorities, governance, and performance expectations that drive consistent execution and business results. Establish and evolve enterprise frameworks, policies, and operating standards governing category strategy, assortment architecture, supplier management, sourcing practices, pricing governance, promotions, and lifecycle management. Direct enterprise portfolio reviews and category investment planning, balancing growth opportunities, margin objectives, inventory efficiency, supply continuity, and customer value creation across the category portfolio. Oversee the development of advanced category analytics, customer insights, and performance measurement capabilities that inform strategic decisions, improve forecasting accuracy, and strengthen competitive positioning. Sponsor strategic supplier partnerships and executive-level business planning activities that drive innovation, improve supplier performance, reduce risk, and create long-term value for the organization. Partner with executive leadership across Sales, Marketing, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and Procurement to align category strategies, resource investments, and transformation initiatives with organizational objectives. Build organizational capability through leadership of directors and managers, succession planning, talent development, budget oversight, and continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen category management effectiveness across the enterprise. Comply with Company and department policies and standards; performs other duties as assigned People Management Accountable for team staffing and managing direct reports to include development, performance management, goal setting, and other managerial duties Ensures direct reports are aware of and follow ethical business practices and Company’s Code of Conduct to maintain a supportive and productive working environment. Minimum Requirements Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management or equivalent education and/or experience 12 years in category management, strategic sourcing, procurement, merchandising or related disciplines 6 years leadership or people management experience Preferred Requirements Master's Degree Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Marketing or equivalent education and/or experience Executive-level experience leading category strategy across multiple business units, product portfolios, or market segments Experience leveraging advanced analytics, customer insights, and market intelligence to drive enterprise decision-making Experience overseeing large-scale supplier partnerships, strategic sourcing programs, and enterprise contract governance Demonstrated success leading business transformation, organizational change, and category performance improvement initiatives Skills and Abilities Expert knowledge of category management, portfolio strategy, strategic sourcing, supplier governance, and merchandising principles Executive leadership capabilities for directing multiple levels of management and drivi…

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