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Entry Level Category Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Walgreens

Procurement Associate

Deerfield, IL · On-site

$63K - $101K/yr

Job Summary Entry level procurement role, which supports the delivery of end-to-end category management at a local, regional - and when appropriate - a global level. The majority of this portfolio ...

PSA BDP

Freight Invoice Auditor

Allentown, PA

... Entry Level Category Operations Job Type Permanent About PSA BDP: PSA BDP, a member of the PSA ... Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Preferred ...

PSA BDP

Freight Invoice Auditor

Allentown, PA

... Entry Level Category Operations Job Type Permanent About PSA BDP: PSA BDP, a member of the PSA ... Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Preferred ...

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How much do entry level category manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level category manager in the United States is $93,410.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,500.00 and $110,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Entry Level Category Manager, you generally need a bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field, along with strong analytical and organizational skills. Familiarity with data analysis tools like Excel, inventory management systems, and sometimes ERP software is typically expected. Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities help you collaborate with suppliers and internal teams. These skills are vital for optimizing product assortments, driving sales growth, and ensuring efficient category performance.

What does an Entry Level Category Manager do?

An Entry Level Category Manager assists in managing a specific group of products or product categories for a retailer or manufacturer. Their responsibilities often include analyzing sales data, tracking market trends, coordinating with suppliers, and helping to develop pricing and promotional strategies. They work closely with senior category managers and cross-functional teams to ensure that the assigned category meets sales and profitability goals. This role is typically a starting point for those interested in a career in merchandising, retail management, or supply chain management.

What are some typical challenges faced by entry level category managers, and how can new hires effectively overcome them?

Entry level category managers often face challenges such as quickly learning product assortments, understanding customer preferences, and managing relationships with suppliers. Navigating large amounts of sales data and aligning with marketing, sales, and supply chain teams can also be demanding. New hires can effectively overcome these challenges by proactively seeking mentorship from experienced colleagues, leveraging available data analytics tools, and participating in cross-functional meetings to build a comprehensive understanding of the business. Continuous learning and open communication are key to successfully growing in this role.
More about Entry Level Category Manager jobs
What cities are hiring for Entry Level Category Manager jobs? Cities with the most Entry Level Category Manager job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Category Manager jobs? The most popular types of Category Manager jobs are:
What states have the most Entry Level Category Manager jobs? States with the most job openings for Entry Level Category Manager jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Category Manager jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Category Manager jobs are:
Entry Level Category Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Category Manager job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 96% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,410 per year, or $44.9 per hour.
Procurement Associate

Procurement Associate

Walgreens

Deerfield, IL • On-site

$63K - $101K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

Walgreens rating

5.5

Company rating: 5.5 out of 10

Based on 2,096 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

87th of 99 rated pharmacies

Job description

Job Description
Job Summary
Entry level procurement role, which supports the delivery of end-to-end category management at a local, regional - and when appropriate - a global level. The majority of this portfolio will be regional and/or local in nature and includes working with stakeholders (functional, procurement and supplier), to execute end to-end category management key activities and support functions. Opportunity to develop basic procurement skills through progressively challenging assignments on the path to a procurement profession. This job comprises of five key activities:. Category analytics and project identification. Leading RFI/RFQ/RFP activities for Medium to Low Spend. Cost program support. Database management and supplier due diligence support. Contract administration
Job Responsibilities
  • Utilizes data from the system to provide benchmarks, financial analysis, and spend analysis for assigned business units for planning and decision-making
  • Analyzes data to identify areas of opportunity and potential projects and develops business case in alignment with assigned internal business unit
  • Tracks and coordinate project plans including goals, strategy, resource scheduling, and timelines
  • Effectively project manages work to schedule; managing risk, opportunities, resources
  • Manages competing priorities and is able to deliver on multiple task
  • Leads the RFx Activities for Medium to Low Value Spend
  • Prepares RFx packages, conducting the RFx events as well as follow up activities with the partnership of the Category Management Team
  • Collaborates with and aligns all supporting functions needed for the procurement process including but not limited to Accounting, Finance, Tax, Strategic Sourcing Category Managers, external vendors and other supporting functions
  • Performs operational procurement activities
  • Responsible for providing project coordination and transactional procurement for their assigned internal business units
  • Supports cash flow program communication and process flow
  • Works cross-functionally to develop work flow and procedure documents
  • Supports database management team to ensure databases (contract, spend and supplier) are up to date
  • Supports supplier due diligence during supplier selection and onboarding, consulting with Category and Assistant Category Managers while managing stakeholder expectations
  • Supports ongoing supplier assurance with direct interaction with suppliers, ensuring all periodics are in place and knowing when to escalate
  • Analyzes existing systems/processes to determine more efficient processing methods or to identify errors
  • Catalogue and system item management
  • Oversees simple contract variations and statements of work, working with stakeholders and informing and consulting Category and Assistant Category Managers.
  • Analyzes existing systems/processes to determine more efficient processing methods or to identify errors

About Walgreens
Founded in 1901, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) has a storied heritage of caring for communities for generations and proudly serves nearly 9 million customers and patients each day across its approximately 8,500 stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and leading omni-channel platforms. Walgreens has approximately 220,000 team members, including nearly 90,000 healthcare service providers, and is committed to being the first choice for retail pharmacy and health services, building trusted relationships that create healthier futures for customers, patients, team members and communities.
External Basic Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree completed by June 30th of the program year.
  • GPA of 3.0 or above.
  • Intermediate level skill in Microsoft Excel (for example: using SUM function, setting borders, setting column width, inserting charts, using text wrap, sorting, setting headers and footers and/or print scaling)
  • Intermediate level skill in Microsoft PowerPoint (for example: applying a theme, formatting character spacing, inserting a picture, changing slide layout and theme colors, adding transitions, customizing slide numbers, changing chart style and/or formatting font) Intermediate level skill in Microsoft Word (for example: inserting headers, page breaks, page numbers and tables and/or adjusting table columns).

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with Smart by GEP or other database system
  • Experience with SAP, Ariba and/or Oracle purchasing systems

We will consider employment of qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
The Salary below is being provided to promote pay transparency and equal employment opportunities at Walgreens. The actual hourly salary within this range that you will be offered will depend on a variety of factors including geography, skills and abilities, education, experience and other relevant factors. This role will remain open until filled. To review benefits, please click here jobs.walgreens.com/benefits. If you are applying on a job board or unable to click on the link, please copy and paste this URL into your browser jobs.walgreens.com/benefits

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