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Category Manager Jobs in Springfield, MA (NOW HIRING)

Support category management activities (expiring contract review, pipeline development, opportunity assessment, etc.) * Provide project management and communication support to category leaders ...

Imperial is recognized throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic for excellence in distribution, merchandising, and category management. What sets us apart? Our singular focus is on providing ...

Sales Supervisor

Manchester, CT · On-site

$25.48 - $36.06/hr

Imperial is recognized throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic for excellence in distribution, merchandising, and category management. What sets us apart? Our singular focus is on providing ...

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Category Manager information

See Springfield, MA salary details

$35.9K

$93.1K

$134K

How much do category manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for category manager in Springfield, MA is $93,083.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,200.00 and $110,100.00 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 job categories do people searching Category Manager jobs in Springfield, MA look for? The top searched job categories for Category Manager jobs in Springfield, MA are:
What cities near Springfield, MA are hiring for Category Manager jobs? Cities near Springfield, MA with the most Category Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Category Manager job openings in Springfield, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 22% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,083 per year, or $44.8 per hour.

Category Manager, Strategic Sourcing

CVS Health

Hartford, CT

$66K - $145K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday


CVS Health rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 4,329 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

88th of 111 rated pharmacies


Job description

We're building a world of health around every individual - shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health, you'll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselvesaccountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger - helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.

Position Summary
The Category Manager, Strategic Sourcing advances CVS Health's procurement transformation by leading datadriven, digitally enabled sourcing initiatives and supporting category management across indirect spend. Leveraging prior managerial sourcing experience, this role partners with category leaders and stakeholders to shape and execute sourcing and category strategies, applying analytics, digital workflows, automation, and AI to drive enterprise value, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Sourcing Execution & Strategic Enablement

Lead moderately complex to complex sourcing events aligned to category strategies and enterprise priorities, supporting near and longterm category objectives

Own endtoend RFx development, including scopes of work, evaluation frameworks, and award recommendations informed by category insights and market dynamics

Lead supplier engagement and negotiations, developing negotiation strategies and commercial tradeoffs to deliver compliant, valuefocused outcomes aligned to category roadmaps

Serve as an escalation point for execution and negotiation issues, partnering with category leaders to mitigate risk and protect category strategy

Analytics & Decision Support

Perform advanced analysis of spend, supplier performance, contracts, and proposals to influence strategy

Identify risks, value opportunities, and improvement levers across assigned categories

Deliver executive-level insights linking data to business and financial outcomes

Transformation & Continuous Improvement

Lead adoption of sourcing processes, analytics, reporting, and digital tools

Contribute to standardization, best practices, and continuous improvement initiatives

Partner with senior leaders on pilots and transformation programs, owning assigned workstreams

Support knowledge sharing and capability building across the team

Stakeholder & Team Collaboration

Act as a primary sourcing partner to crossfunctional stakeholders, presenting sourcing strategies, insights, and recommendations to business audiences to support alignment and decisionmaking

Provide informal coaching to elevate sourcing and analytics capabilities, including guiding stakeholders through insights, tools, and outputs

Build trusted relationships with category teams by clearly articulating sourcing outcomes and value stories that support strategy and longterm value realization

Key Competencies

Strong analytical skills applied to data, automation, and AI to improve sourcing execution

Operates independently in a matrixed environment with sound judgment and appropriate escalation

Clear, influential communicator of sourcing insights and recommendations to stakeholders

Manages multiple complex priorities while delivering highquality results

Proactive, collaborative owner with a continuousimprovement mindset

Qualifications

5+ years of experience in sourcing, procurement, finance, analytics, consulting, or a related field

Advanced proficiency in Excel; experience with data visualization, dashboards, or procurement analytics tools

Demonstrated experience leading RFx processes, sourcing platforms, contract analysis, or digital transformation initiatives

Experience working in large, complex, or matrixed organizations strongly preferred


Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of experience is required; MBA or advanced degree preferred

Work Model: Hybrid

Candidates within commuting distance to Woonsocket, RI; Hartford, CT; Buffalo Grove, IL; will work onsite two days per week.

Anticipated Weekly Hours

40

Time Type

Full time

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

$66,330.00 - $145,860.00

This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above.

Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.

This fulltime position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.


Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 08/31/2026

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.


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