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Category Manager Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Zayo Group, LLC

Category Manager

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$68K - $104K/yr

We are seeking a strategic and data-driven Category Manager to own the performance, growth, and profitability of assigned product and service categories. This role is responsible for developing ...

L3HHCM20

Lead Category Manager

Chantilly, VA

$100K - $186K/yr

Lead, Category Manager Job Code: 41141 Job Location: Palm Bay, FL OR Rochester, NY OR Wilmington, MA OR Chantilly, VA OR Colorado Springs, CO OR Fort Wayne, IN OR Camden, NJ OR Greenville, TX Job ...

L3Harris Technologies

Lead Category Manager

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$100K - $186K/yr

Lead, Category Manager Job Code: 41141 Job Location: Palm Bay, FL OR Rochester, NY OR Wilmington, MA OR Chantilly, VA OR Colorado Springs, CO OR Fort Wayne, IN OR Camden, NJ OR Greenville, TX Job ...

Amazon

Category Manager, GPO

Arlington, VA · On-site

The role will work alongside a team of Construction category managers and will partner closely with Pre-Construction, Design and Construction, World Wide Real-Estate, and World Wide Design to develop ...

Houston Methodist

Strategic Category Manager

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$131K - $169K/yr

At Houston Methodist, the Strategic Sourcing Category Manager position is responsible for leading the development and execution of sourcing strategies across assigned categories. This position ...

Micron

Category Supplier Manager

Manassas, VA · On-site

This role will be the primary category point of contact for supplier interactions, performance management, and negotiations for the site. In this role, you will work with partners to build ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsCategory JobsCategory Manager JobsCategory Manager Jobs in Reston, VA

Category Manager information

See Reston, VA salary details

$37.5K

$97.2K

$139.9K

How much do category manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for category manager in Reston, VA is $97,180.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,500.00 and $115,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a category manager get paid?

The salary of a category manager typically ranges from $70,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience, industry, and location. Many also receive bonuses and benefits, and strong skills in data analysis and vendor management are valuable in this role.

What is the difference between Category Manager vs Product Manager?

AspectCategory ManagerProduct Manager
Primary FocusManaging product categories, optimizing assortment, and driving category salesDeveloping product strategies, overseeing product lifecycle, and ensuring product success
Required SkillsMarket analysis, supplier negotiation, inventory managementMarket research, project management, cross-functional collaboration
Work EnvironmentRetail, wholesale, or distribution settingsTech companies, manufacturing, or software industries

While both roles involve strategic planning and market analysis, Category Managers focus on managing entire product categories within retail or distribution environments, whereas Product Managers concentrate on developing and managing specific products throughout their lifecycle. Understanding these differences helps employers and job seekers target the right skills and career paths.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a category manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Category Manager, you need expertise in category analysis, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management, often supported by a bachelor’s degree in business or supply chain management. Familiarity with procurement software, data analytics tools like Excel or Power BI, and ERP systems is typically required. Strong negotiation, analytical thinking, and communication skills set top performers apart in this role. These competencies are crucial for optimizing category performance, driving cost savings, and aligning purchasing strategies with organizational goals.

What does a category manager do?

A Category Manager is responsible for managing a specific group of products, known as a 'category,' within a retail or business organization. They analyze market trends, negotiate with suppliers, and develop strategies to maximize sales and profitability for their assigned category. This role often involves collaboration with marketing, sales, and supply chain teams to ensure products meet customer needs and business goals. Category Managers play a key role in product selection, pricing, promotions, and inventory management.

What are some common challenges a category manager faces when aligning category strategy with company goals?

Category Managers often face the challenge of balancing supplier interests, customer needs, and overarching company objectives. They must adapt to shifting market trends, manage cross-functional teams, and ensure that their category strategies drive profitability while staying aligned with brand values and long-term growth plans. Effective communication with stakeholders across procurement, marketing, and sales is crucial for gaining buy-in and executing successful initiatives. Flexibility and a data-driven approach are essential for overcoming these challenges and delivering value.
More about Category Manager jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Category jobs in Reston, VA? The most popular types of Category jobs in Reston, VA are:
What job categories do people searching Category Manager jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Category Manager jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Category Manager jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Category Manager job openings:
Category Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Category Manager job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $97,180 per year, or $46.7 per hour.

Category Manager

Zayo Group, LLC

Ashburn, VA • On-site

$68K - $104K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

Company Description
Zayo provides mission-critical bandwidth to the world's most impactful companies, fueling the innovations that are transforming our society. Zayo's 141,000-mile network in North America and Europe includes extensive metro connectivity to thousands of buildings and data centers. Zayo's communications infrastructure solutions include dark fiber, private data networks, wavelengths, Ethernet, and dedicated Internet access. Zayo serves wireless and wireline carriers, media, tech, content, finance, healthcare and other large enterprises.
We are seeking a strategic and data-driven Category Manager to own the performance, growth, and profitability of assigned product and service categories. This role is responsible for developing category strategies, managing supplier relationships, driving sourcing initiatives, analyzing market trends, and partnering cross-functionally to optimize commercial outcomes.
The ideal candidate combines strong analytical capabilities with commercial acumen, supplier negotiation skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Management
  • Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business objectives.

  • Manage the overall health and performance of assigned categories, including revenue, margin, cost savings, and supplier performance.

  • Identify growth opportunities, market gaps, and category optimization initiatives.

  • Create and maintain category roadmaps, sourcing plans, and business cases.

Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management
  • Lead sourcing events, RFPs, RFQs, contract negotiations, and supplier selection processes.

  • Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships.

  • Evaluate supplier capabilities, pricing structures, risk profiles, and performance metrics.

  • Negotiate favorable commercial terms, service levels, and contractual agreements.

  • Drive supplier performance reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.

Market & Competitive Analysis
  • Monitor industry trends, market dynamics, pricing movements, and supplier landscapes.

  • Conduct spend analysis and identify opportunities for consolidation, standardization, and cost optimization.

  • Benchmark products, services, suppliers, and pricing against market conditions.

  • Provide recommendations based on market intelligence and data-driven insights.

Financial & Performance Management
  • Analyze category spend, revenue, margin, savings, and operational performance.

  • Develop forecasts, budgets, and performance targets for assigned categories.

  • Track and report category KPIs and business outcomes.

  • Identify and mitigate supply, pricing, and commercial risks.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Procurement, Operations, Sales, Product, Finance, Supply Chain, and other stakeholders to align category initiatives.

  • Influence decision-making through data, business cases, and strategic recommendations.

  • Support implementation of category changes, supplier transitions, and sourcing strategies.

  • Ensure compliance with organizational policies and procurement standards.

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Economics, Marketing, or a related field.

  • 5+ years of experience in category management, supply chain, strategic sourcing, procurement, merchandising, or related commercial functions.

  • Demonstrated experience leading supplier negotiations and contract management activities.

  • Strong analytical skills with experience using data to drive business decisions.

  • Experience managing spend, revenue, margin, or category performance metrics.

  • Advanced proficiency in Excel and data analysis tools.

  • Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Estimated base salary range: $68,100 - $104,700 USD/annually.
#LI-EC1
The base pay range shown is a guideline and reasonable estimate for this role. It takes into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions. Actual compensation offered may vary from the posted range based upon geographic location, work experience, skill level, certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Non- sales roles may be eligible to participate in a discretionary annual incentive plan. Sales roles may be eligible to participate in a sales incentive plan.
Additionally, this position may be eligible for certain benefits, such as health insurance, life insurance, disability retirement plans, paid time off.
The posting will be active for a minimum of 3 days. The active posting will continue to extend by 3 days until the position is filled.
Benefits, Rewards & Wellness
  • Excellent Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
  • Retirement 401(k) Savings Plan
  • Generous paid time off policy including paid parental leave

Zayo is an equal opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact us.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
As part of the application, hiring, onboarding, and/or employment process, Zayo or its affiliates, partners, and vendors may collect, store, and use biometric identifiers and biometric information (collectively, "Biometric Data"), such as fingerprints, facial geometry scans or other unique biological characteristics. Zayo uses CLEAR1, a third-party identity verification service, to verify applicant identity during the hiring process. CLEAR1 may collect Biometric Data, including facial geometry scans and/or other biometric identifiers, to authenticate your identity. Biometric Data will be retained pursuant to CLEAR1's policies, which can be found here: https://www.clearme.com/clear1-credential-policy-crp. Zayo will not sell, lease, trade, or otherwise profit from any applicant's or employee's Biometric Data. By proceeding with your application, you acknowledge this disclosure. Prior to any collection of Biometric Data - including through CLEAR - you may be presented with a separate consent form and asked to provide your written authorization in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), the Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act (CUBI), and other applicable biometric privacy statutes.

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