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Category Associate Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Hypertherm Associates

Category Manager

New Brighton, MN · On-site

$93K - $156K/yr

Category Manager Hypertherm Associates is seeking a Category Manager to join our Global Sourcing team to manage fabricated metal, formed metal, machined metal and machined non-metal. The role may ...

Hypertherm

Category Manager

New Brighton, MN · On-site

$93K - $156K/yr

Category Manager Hypertherm Associates is seeking a Category Manager to join our Global Sourcing team to manage fabricated metal, formed metal, machined metal and machined non-metal. The role may ...

Advantage Solutions

Category Manager

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$85K/yr

Category Manager Job Locations US-TX-Dallas | US-TX-Fort Worth | US-IL-Chicago | US-MN-Minneapolis ... internal sales associates, clients and customers. No day is ever the same in this job as the ...

UNFI

Dairy Category Manager - Hybrid

Stillwater, MN · On-site

The Dairy Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing category strategies that ... Hybrid associates may choose to work from an office on a more frequent basis than required.

UNFI

Meat Category Manager - Hybrid

Stillwater, MN · On-site

The Prepackaged Meat Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing category ... Hybrid associates may choose to work from an office on a more frequent basis than required.

Potbelly Sandwich Works

Team Member

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$17.25 - $17.75/hr

August 03, 2026 Location: 210 IDS Center, 80 S 8th, Minneapolis, US, MN, 55402 Job Category: Associate We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without ...

Potbelly Sandwich Works

Team Member

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$17.25 - $17.75/hr

August 03, 2026 Location: 210 IDS Center, 80 S 8th, Minneapolis, US, MN, 55402 Job Category: Associate We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without ...

Acosta

Senior Category Analyst (CPG)

Eden Prairie, MN · Hybrid

$89K - $118K/yr

You will serve as a category expert on assigned clients to drive sales at customers ... We recognize our associates are the foundation of our success. That's why we prioritize your growth ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsCategory Associate JobsCategory Associate Jobs in Minnesota

Category Associate information

See Minnesota salary details

$10

$19

$32

How much do category associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for category associate in Minnesota is $19.46, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.62 and $20.24 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a category associate?

Category Associates are professionals who support the management and growth of specific product categories within a company, often in the retail, e-commerce, or consumer goods sectors. They assist Category Managers by conducting market research, analyzing sales data, coordinating with vendors, and helping to develop effective pricing and promotional strategies. Their role is essential in ensuring that the assigned product categories meet sales targets and align with overall business objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a category associate?

To thrive as a Category Associate, you need a solid background in data analysis, merchandising, and business acumen, often supported by a degree in business, marketing, or a related field. Familiarity with retail management systems, Excel, and analytics tools like Nielsen or IRI is typically required. Strong communication, negotiation, and organizational skills help you collaborate with vendors and internal teams. These competencies are crucial for optimizing product categories, driving sales performance, and ensuring effective inventory and supplier management.

How does a category associate typically collaborate with other departments to achieve category goals?

Category Associates work closely with multiple teams such as marketing, supply chain, and sales to ensure the success of their assigned product categories. They often coordinate with marketing to develop promotional strategies, partner with supply chain to manage inventory, and support sales by providing data-driven insights on product performance. This cross-functional collaboration helps them understand market trends, address operational challenges, and drive business growth. Effective communication and teamwork are key to succeeding in this role.

What is the difference between Category Associate vs Product Coordinator?

AspectCategory AssociateProduct Coordinator
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may require a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree often preferred; background in marketing, business, or related fields
Work EnvironmentOffice setting, retail, or warehouse environmentsOffice-based, collaborating with marketing, sales, and product teams
Employer & Industry UsageRetail, consumer goods, e-commerceManufacturing, retail, consumer goods
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level roles in category managementClarifying responsibilities related to product lifecycle and coordination

While both roles support product and category management, a Category Associate primarily focuses on assisting with category analysis, inventory, and sales data. A Product Coordinator handles the coordination of product launches, marketing, and cross-department collaboration. The roles often overlap in retail and consumer goods industries but differ in scope and specific responsibilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Category jobs in Minnesota?

The most popular types of Category jobs in Minnesota are:

What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Category Associate jobs?

Cities in Minnesota with the most Category Associate job openings:

Category Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Category Associate job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,476 per year, or $19.5 per hour.

Category Manager

Hypertherm Associates

New Brighton, MN • On-site

$93K - $156K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

Job description

Category Manager
Hypertherm Associates is seeking a Category Manager to join our Global Sourcing team to manage fabricated metal, formed metal, machined metal and machined non-metal. The role may support other categories depending on needs.
The ideal candidate will bring supply chain experience to assess and mitigate risk, support NPI activities through qualification of new suppliers, and identify cost savings opportunities. You will negotiate contracts with suppliers aligning requirements from Legal, Finance, Operations and Logistics. The candidate will work with Category Specialists from Business Teams (BTs) to develop category strategies and ensure suppliers meet our performance expectations.
If this sounds like an exciting opportunity, here are some other ways you'll help positively impact our business as a Category Manager in Global Sourcing:
Category Strategy
  • Work with BT Category Specialists to define, document and drive category strategies

Supplier Management
  • Lead annual/semiannual supplier performance reviews
  • Execute new supplier search and lead qualification process based on BT needs
  • Coordinate supplier reductions/terminations across BTs
  • Manage contract negotiation

Assurance of Supply
  • Review and maintain supplier risk assessments
  • Lead procurement tool & process development
  • Provide training to internal and external parties

Projects/Cost Savings
  • Work with Category Specialists to identify and support cost savings opportunities
  • Provide project management support including defining, tracking and communicating milestones as required for procurement projects
    • e.g., new supplier qualification, supplier exits/transitions, identification and implementation of new tools

Who you are and the experience you bring:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain Management or Engineering degree with a minimum of 7 years of supply chain experience
  • Proven project management skills and knowledge leading cross-functional teams
  • Comprehensive understanding of business needs, regulations, and legal requirements
  • Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills to enable successful conclusion of contracts
  • Solid analytical abilities creating and adapting templates to be used across the company
  • Experienced in Lean concepts and complex value stream mapping
  • Working knowledge of PFMEAs
  • Capable of generating cost/benefit analyses and make buy/decision modeling
  • Adept at articulating total cost of ownership, inventory holding cost and cost of capital
  • Demonstrated understanding of statistical methods
  • Strong attention to detail, along with strong written and verbal presentation and communication skills

Preferred experience that differentiates you:
  • Prior experience as a Hypertherm Associates Category Specialist or Category Manager
  • Knowledge of Purchasing modules in Oracle and/or Insight
  • Experience managing some or all grouped categories
  • Knowledge of Lean/JIT Methodology
  • ISM and/or APICS certification
  • Green/Black Belt Certified

Location: Hanover, NH (Relocation assistance is available)
Travel: 20% - 40% Domestic and International
Why join Hypertherm Associates?
  • Collaborative, 100% employee-owned culture
  • Profit-Sharing and Employee Stock Ownership (ESOP)
  • Five days/year paid Community Service Time
  • Strong commitment to Environmental Stewardship
  • Stable, growing organization with a no-layoff philosophy

#LI-MJ1
Hypertherm Associates is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we welcome all applications. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
At Hypertherm Associates, we are committed to building an inclusive diverse, flexible, and collaborative environment. If our mission resonates with you, but you don't meet all posted requirements, we encourage you to still apply. We will evaluate your application materials and may suggest alternative roles that better leverage your strengths and talents. For positions with multiple levels, we will evaluate your prior experience to determine the level within our organization you are best aligned based upon the job applying.
CURRENT ASSOCIATES OR TEMPORARY ASSOCIATES: Please apply via your internal Workday career account.
$93,936.00-$156,562.00 AnnualThis is the base pay range that an applicant can expect to make upon hire.
Pay within this range will vary based upon relevant experience, skills, and education among other factors.

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