Category Manager & Demand Planner, Power Tools

• Be the merchant accountable for ensuring your portfolio meets the needs of our customers, protects our brand and is performing to business targets. You are also accountable for bringing to market the new products and promotions that will engage and delight our customers.
• Maintain close working relationships with our vendors, create strategies and solutions for improving business performance and provide cross-functional team direction and support to ensure execution on initiatives that drive the business and reinforce Lee Valley’s position as a trusted, compelling place for our customers to shop.
• Anticipate customer demand with effective sales planning/forecasting, timely purchase order execution.
• Execute initiatives and tactics to support Lee Valley Tools supply chain and purchasing strategies.
• Achieve efficiencies across assigned vendor partners. Ensure delivery of product to warehouses/retail stores meeting customer demand, in store display strategies and value proposition.
• Maintains inventory levels to meet or exceed sales and margin $ plans.
• Accountable for the performance management of assigned portfolios with major KPI’s being Revenue $, Margin $, Margin %, Turnover and Inventory $ as well as new product and promotion deployment to target.

• As the product expert, develop with Divisional Merchandising Manager, the seasonal business targets, and supporting portfolio merchandising requirements to meet financial plan and customer expectations. Being consistent with our brand; conduct reviews (product development initiatives, rationalizing product lines, assortment planning).
• Work closely with the stakeholders to drive and support execution of initiatives cross-functionally to grow the business and reinforce Lee Valley’s position as a trusted, compelling place for our customers to shop.
• Align budgets, optimize inventory levels and sub-category assortments.
• Performance management to Revenue, Margin, Turnover and Inventory value targets.
• Provide analytical insights in support of customer engagement and Category initiatives on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual report basis for continuous improvement.
• Ensure NP Queue is updated and accurate.
• Develop and maintain stocking policies and planogram updates as required.
• Maintain close working relationships with vendors to stay abreast of business/market changes.
• Develop product and promotional business cases and collaborate with cross-functional teams on the execution of product marketing strategies and collateral for our stores, catalogs and website.
• Executes bi-annual Sales Planning and Buy Plan Execution (Integrated Planning & Execution).
• Executes flow of purchase orders to support COGS, Receipt, and Inventory Plans.
• Executes response process to action in-season changes, address evolving sales trends and maintain perpetual inventory.
• Identify and action stock balance opportunities.
• Performs effective order follow up. Communicates delivery status to key stakeholders. Ensure timely updates of system due dates to support accurate customer messaging.
• Assists with developing simplified procedures to overcome business model complexities.
• Position inventory ahead of peak customer demand in physical stores and regional warehouses.
• Executes strategy to support store/warehouse inventory settings.
• Maximizes full case pick potential via re-distribution of inbound purchase orders.
• Maximize efficiencies for DC receiving/picking, with optimal PO execution and store/warehouse inventory settings.
• Request timely pre-payments to support optimal delivery of purchase orders.
• Minimize costs by managing PO value against cost discounts and free shipping thresholds.
• Provide timely inventory check in’s for marketing events and special product promotions.
• Build relationships with cross-functional teams, enabling effective collaboration.

• Undergraduate in business or equivalent; Minimum 1-2 years of relevant industry experience; 2-4 years of related experience in a retail environment, preferably with a background in category management, supply chain, operations.
• Must have industry knowledge and experience in woodworking, and or Power tool experience from construction, carpentry or general woodworking position.
• Innate understanding of the products within the category.
• Strong analytical skills; proficient in financial analysis, forecasting and budgeting.
• Experience in ERP systems.
• Retail experience is an asset.
• ASCM / SCM certification is preferred.

• Financial Acumen- solid understanding on budgets and factors that can affect profitability. Analytical and statistical knowledge.
• Can maintain strong cross-functional relationships: ability to clearly and persuasively communicate with a large variety of stakeholders; comfortable managing negotiations with vendors.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Suites with Intermediate experience in excel at a min.
• Refined business acumen.
• Customer focus, understands how the products relate back to the end user to ensure the customer’s expectations are being met.
• Enjoys solving complex problems in a fast-paced environment; solution based mindset.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines.

• Competitive compensation program including competitive base salary, a robust health and dental benefits packages well as a matching group retirement plan.
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• Lee Valley discount.
• A family-oriented environment that supports growth and development for all employees.

Lee Valley Tools