Associate Category Manager

Job Summary:

An Associate Category Manager owns the P&L and end-to-end category strategy for assigned categories across the convenience store business. Sets category priorities and translates customer, market, financial, vendor, and store insights into plans that deliver sales, gross margin, and other agreed business targets.

At Global Partners, business starts with people. Since 1933, we’ve believed in taking care of our customers, our guests, our communities, and each other—and that belief continues to guide us.  

The Global Spirit is how we work to fuel that long term commitment to success. As a Fortune 500 company with 90+ years of experience, we’re proud to fuel communities—responsibly and sustainably. We show up every day with grit, passion, and purpose—anticipating needs, building lasting relationships, and creating shared value. 

Job Description:

• Own the category P&L and business results for assigned portfolio. Track sales, gross margin dollars and rate, units, transactions, market share where available, budget, and prior-year performance; identify drivers and take action to close gaps or build on results.
• Develop and refresh annual and longer-term category strategies using customer needs, competitive and market information, financial performance, and store feedback. Set clear priorities and measurable objectives for assortment, pricing, promotions, space, vendor plans, and execution.
• Translate category strategy into quarterly and in-season plans. Make timely decisions, establish action plans and checkpoints, and adjust plans as performance, costs, competition, or customer demand changes.
• Monitor competitive activity, market data where available, customer trends, and emerging products; summarize relevant findings for category recommendations.
• Own assortment and item productivity across the lifecycle. Evaluate new items, costs, retails, distribution, and space; optimize the assortment and lead item launches, changes, and discontinuations.
• Lead category pricing and promotional strategy, including offer selection, timing, merchandising, vendor funding, and post-event evaluation. Use results to improve sales, gross profit, traffic, and promotional effectiveness.
• Lead vendor relationships and business reviews. Set expectations, review performance and commercial plans, pursue opportunities, resolve issues, and document decisions, commitments, and follow-up.
• Drive execution across stores by setting clear direction and partnering with Store Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, Pricing, and vendors on availability, signage, planograms, pricing accuracy, and communication.
• Negotiate with vendors for lower total delivered cost, volume incentives, rebates, advertising, funding, and other applicable allowances.
• Works closely with field operations regarding execution, training and marketing.

Additional Job Description:

• Proficiency in one or more of the following tools: Excel, PowerBI and/or Tableau.
• You manage and take ownership of projects with supervision.
• You consistently meet deadlines and are results-oriented.
• You show communicative effectiveness in all interactions with all levels within the organization, external partners and collaborators.
• You possess the ability to create and deliver public presentations to peers and executives.
• You can collaborate and influence with and without authority.
• You have a basic understanding of P&L statements.
• You always demonstrate a professional demeanor.

Pay Range:

$89,700.00 - $134,600.00

The pay range for this position is outlined above. The final amount offered at the start of employment is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience level, knowledge, skills, abilities and geographic location, and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance and market factors.

Our Commitments to You

• Coins! We offer competitive salaries and opportunities for growth. We have an amazing Talent Development Team who create trainings for growth and job development.

• Health & Wellness - Medical, Dental, Visions and Life Insurance. Along with additional wellness support.

• The Road Ahead – We offer 401k and a match component!

• Professional Development - We provide tuition reimbursement; this benefit is offered after 6 months of service.

What to Expect From the Hiring Process

We value passion and potential. Please apply if you’re qualified and interested—we’d love to hear from you. 

A member of our Talent Acquisition team will review your application and may connect you with the hiring manager if your experience is a strong match. 

Interviews are conducted virtually and in person, depending on the role. We’ll provide more details about next steps if selected to move forward.  

Global Partners LP is an equal opportunity employer. We foster a company culture where ideas from all people help us grow, move and thrive. We embrace the diversity of all applicants and do not discriminate against race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. If you have a disability and need an accommodation to apply, please contact our recruiting department at 781-747-9675 or 781-7GP-WORK.

*Disclaimer: At Global Partners, we don't use lie detector tests for any employment decisions. We follow all the rules and regulations, so we need to let you know: In Massachusetts, it's illegal to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment of continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.