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Associate Category Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Pilgrim's

SR ASSOCIATE CATEGORY MANAGER

Greeley, CO · On-site

$95K - $125K/yr

Sr. Associate - Category Manager, Prepared Foods - Non-Commercial Foodservice Purpose and Scope/General Summary; This Role Will... * Own and support the PnL (profit and loss attribution) for the ...

Inspire Brands

Associate Category Manager

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$31.75 - $43.50/hr

With strong project management skills and attention to detail, this position supports the Category Management and Culinary vision by translating innovation strategies into effect in-market execution.

Inspire Brands

Associate Category Manager

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$31.75 - $43.50/hr

With strong project management skills and attention to detail, this position supports the Category Management and Culinary vision by translating innovation strategies into effect in-market execution.

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How much do associate category manager jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate category manager in the United States is $25.41, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $29.81 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Associate Category Manager vs Category Analyst?

AspectAssociate Category ManagerCategory Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field; some roles may prefer experience in retail or supply chainBachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field; often entry-level
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with cross-functional teams, manages supplier relationships, and supports category strategiesAnalyzes sales data, monitors market trends, and provides insights to support category decisions
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in retail, consumer goods, and e-commerce companiesUsed across similar industries for data analysis and strategic support

The Associate Category Manager and Category Analyst roles share similar educational backgrounds and work environments, focusing on supporting category strategies through collaboration or data analysis. While the Associate Category Manager has more responsibilities in supplier management and strategy execution, the Category Analyst primarily provides insights through data analysis. Both roles are essential in retail and consumer goods industries, often working together to optimize product categories.

What does an Associate Category Manager do?

An Associate Category Manager supports the development and execution of strategies to optimize product categories within a retail or business environment. They analyze market trends, sales data, and customer preferences to help determine product assortment, pricing, and promotional tactics. Working closely with suppliers, marketing teams, and senior category managers, they aim to maximize category performance and profitability. This role often involves reporting, project management, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure effective category growth.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Category Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Category Manager, you need strong analytical skills, business acumen, and a background in merchandising or supply chain, often supported by a bachelor’s degree in business or related fields. Familiarity with category management software, advanced Excel, and data visualization tools such as Tableau or Power BI is typically required. Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills enable standout performance in managing vendors and cross-functional teams. These skills are crucial for driving category growth, optimizing product assortments, and ensuring profitability in a competitive retail environment.

How does an Associate Category Manager typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve category goals?

An Associate Category Manager frequently works with teams such as marketing, sales, supply chain, and finance to ensure category strategies are effectively executed. This collaboration involves sharing market insights, coordinating promotional activities, and aligning on inventory planning to meet sales targets. Effective communication and the ability to manage multiple stakeholders are essential, as the role acts as a bridge between departments to drive category performance. Regular meetings and joint projects are common, providing exposure to various aspects of the business and opportunities for career growth.
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Associate Category Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Category Manager job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 98% Full Time, and 2% Part Time. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $52,863 per year, or $25.4 per hour.
Associate Category Manager

Associate Category Manager

Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores

Oklahoma City, OK

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago

Love's Travel Stops rating

5.9

Company rating: 5.9 out of 10

Based on 766 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

389th of 713 rated retailers

Job description

Benefits: * Fuel Your Growth with Love's - company funded tuition assistance * Paid Time Off * 401(k) – 100% Match up to 5% * Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance the first of the month after 30 days * Competitive Pay * Career Development *  

Welcome to Love's: The Associate Merchant is responsible for overseeing assigned categories and selecting and purchasing products that align with the company’s sales strategy and customer preferences. This role involves analyzing market trends, forecasting demand, negotiating with suppliers, and managing inventory to ensure optimal stock levels and profitability. The Associate Merchant aims to deliver a compelling product assortment that drives sales, enhances customer satisfaction, and supports the overall business objectives.

Job Functions:

  • Act as the category manager and buyer for assigned categories
  • Support the development, planning, and implementation of strategic plans for given categories
  • Leverage data and resources to make informed product-level and category-level decisions. Regularly review data to measure impacts of implemented strategies
  • Deploy tests (product, fixture, vendor, distribution, etc.) and measure success metrics
  • Strategize, manage, support private brand consumable products
  • Support the development of the 4 P’s of Marketing for given categories (product, place, price, promotion)
  • Support the development of a set review process/Joint Business Planning Process (JBP)/LAB (yearly planning) for the merchandising department
  • Responsible for providing year-over-year growth and for exceeding budget and P&L goals
  • Build collaborative relationships with cross-functional team individual contributors. Partner with marketing, support, and operations teams to ensure seamless execution of merchandising strategies and campaigns
  • Evaluate and select vendors based on performance metrics, quality standards, and cost-effectiveness. Own relationships of lower volume vendors, keeping the Supervisor/Manager informed of recent developments, challenges, support needed
  • Prepare reports and presentations for senior management, highlighting key performance indicators, trends, and recommendations

Experience and Qualifications:

    • Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, merchandising, fashion merchandising or a related field is preferred
    • 2+ years in retail merchandise buying is required
    • Experience working as a merchant, retail buyer, category manager, and or retail merchandising planner is preferred
    • Experience managing vendor relations, 3rd party suppliers, distributors required
    • Experience supervising a team is preferred
    • Rebate and accounts receivable experience is a plus
    • SAP, back office systems experience is a plus
    • Convenience Store buyer experience is a plus
    • Retail product and brand development experience is ideal

Skills and Physical Demands:   

    • Hard skills: Knowledgeable and proficient within Microsoft Office programs (Excel, PowerPoint etc), Data Tools. Proficiency in MS Excel and PowerPoint is required
    • Soft Skills: As a buyer and category manager good written and verbal communications skills are a must. As well as, having strong analytical skills, attention to detail, self-motivation, and ability to work in a fast-paced changing environment.

Work Environment:  This full time position is located at Love's Corporate Headquarters in Oklahoma City. This is an in-office/onsite position.

Our Culture: 

Fueling customers' journeys since 1964, innovation leads the way for this family-owned and operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City. With nearly 40,000 team members, travel stops are the core business along with products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, traveling public, RVers, alternative energy and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities and an inclusive workplace are hallmarks of the award-winning culture.

Love's is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans encouraged to apply.

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