Verified Job On Employer Career Site Job Summary: Leslie's Pool Supplies is the world's largest retailer of swimming pool supplies, offering numerous career opportunities across its various divisions. The Category Manager will drive financial performance and strategic growth within a product segment, managing vendor relationships and optimizing product assortment and pricing across sales channels. Responsibilities: • Develop and execute the category’s long-term growth strategy, including channel-specific product, pricing, and promotional plans. • Analyze and manage category profitability down to dead net profit, incorporating costs such as returns, freight, rebates, and shrink. • Make data-driven decisions on assortment planning, pricing tiers, and promotional cadence by channel, leveraging deep knowledge of customer behavior and channel dynamics. • Lead new product launches, from concept and vendor negotiation through commercialization and post-launch performance tracking. • Serve as the primary contact for a defined set of vendors; negotiate cost, payment terms, funding, and exclusivity arrangements to support strategic initiatives. • Collaborate cross-functionally to optimize inventory turns, minimize days of inventory on hand (DOH), and reduce scrap and return rates. • Optimize days payable outstanding (DPO) through vendor negotiations and alignment with company working capital goals. • Develop and present clear, actionable consumer insights based on POS data, margin trends, and competitive benchmarks. • Own and manage the full product lifecycle—introduction, maintenance, rationalization, and exit planning—to maintain a relevant and productive assortment. • Drive financial accountability by tracking and reporting sales, margin, and inventory KPIs; recommend actions to improve underperforming areas. • Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Planning, eCommerce, Store Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure aligned execution and seamless customer experience. • Solicit and secure vendor funding for in-store promotions, digital advertising, and other growth-driving programs. • Monitor and respond to competitive activity; recommend adjustments to pricing, assortment, or positioning as needed. • Champion brand integrity and customer trust through thoughtful product selection and vendor alignment. • Demonstrate a high level of autonomy in day-to-day category management while aligning major decisions with the Category Director’s broader strategic vision. • Display strong business acumen with the ability to synthesize financial, operational, and market data into actionable strategies. • Serve as a mentor or informal leader to junior team members, supporting their development and project execution. Qualifications: Required: • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Marketing, Merchandising, Economics, or a related field, or comparable work experience; MBA or advanced degree a plus. • 5–7 years of progressive experience in merchandising, category management, or retail buying—preferably in a multi-channel retail environment. • Demonstrated ability to manage a category P&L, including responsibility for pricing, gross margin, inventory productivity, and vendor funding. • Strong financial acumen, including experience with dead net profit analysis, cost structures, and working capital levers like DPO and DOH. • Proven success in managing cross-channel strategies, including eCommerce, brick & mortar, and/or marketplaces. • Experience leading new product introductions and managing full product lifecycles from concept to exit. • Strong vendor management and negotiation skills, including the ability to secure extended payment terms and promotional support. • High proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and data analysis tools; familiarity with Power BI is preferred. • Ability to analyze large data sets to uncover insights and develop actionable business strategies. • Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. • Highly collaborative with a demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams (marketing, supply chain, finance, eCom, and store ops). • Strategic thinker with an eye for detail and a drive for continuous improvement. • Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear business narratives. Company: In March of 1963, a one-man pool supply operation working out of a backyard shed in North Hollywood, California, began. Founded in 1963, the company is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Public Company.