Category Business Manager - Commodity & Building Materials

Central Valley is a leading family-owned and operated building supply company with eight locations throughout Northern California. We have been in business since 1955 and have grown to become one of the largest regional suppliers of building and agricultural products in the United States. Central Valley has been voted among the Best Places to work in the North Bay by the North Bay Business Journal. We are currently seeking a Category Business Manager, based out of our administrative office in Napa, CA.

The Category Business Manager (CBM) is responsible for driving sales, profitability, inventory performance, and category strategy for commodity lumber, building materials, and fasteners across Central Valley retail locations. The CBM develops and executes category plans through assortment management, sourcing, merchandising, pricing, promotions, and supplier partnerships while delivering sales, margin, inventory, and return objectives. This role directly manages and develops team members and partners closely with Operations, Sales, and suppliers to achieve business growth and exceptional customer service.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Directly manage, coach, and develop direct reports, setting clear goals and holding the team accountable for results. 
• Provide day-to-day guidance on category strategy, sourcing, and replenishment decisions, elevating the team’s analytical and negotiation capabilities.
• Support the ongoing development of direct reports and foster an engaged, people-focused culture.

Category Management

• Strong knowledge and understanding of the softwood lumber and commodity building-materials markets, anticipating and communicating significant market changes that influence availability and pricing. 
• Assume full ownership of, and accountability for, assigned commodity lumber, building materials, and fastener categories. 
• Deliver financial metrics of agreed upon annual plan. 
• Be the subject-matter expert for the assigned category within Central Valley, establishing category role, strategic objectives and tactics for achievement of category sales and net margin.
• Continually update understanding of customer requirements, product trends, vendor dynamics, market conditions and the competitive environment for each category. 
• Develop and implement category plans including product assortment, performance criteria (sales revenue, gross margin, return on inventory), and pricing strategy relative to competition. Identify new product directions, areas for expansion, and rationalization. 
• Ensure inventory rotation, and rotation of non-performing inventory. 
• Develop merchandising planograms. 
• Direct and oversee all product knowledge training for store associates (executed with the team). Monitor category performance versus budget and implement plans to address variances.

Vendor Management

• Elevate relationships with vendors to partnership status, not just transactional. 
• Plan, execute and deliver the line review process against agreed timelines. 
• Lead supplier sourcing and negotiations to ensure total lower cost, incorporating vendor support revenues, preferred arrangements, service levels, and product quality. 
• Maintain relationships with all vendors and potential vendors to enhance opportunistic and spot-buy opportunities.

Marketing

• Support the Director by contributing category-specific input and supporting execution for the assigned categories.
• Support Sales associates with relevant marketing collateral and market intelligence to serve target customers. 
• Support category and merchandising excitement through in-store events, trade shows, promotions, and vendor product demonstrations.

Additional Responsibilities

• Build consensus and partner cross-functionally to develop and execute strategy and achieve established goals. 
• Attend industry and buying shows as applicable. 
• Maintain knowledge of Central Valley warehouse/store executional requirements and nuances. 
• Regularly inspect all Standard Operating Procedures for accuracy and efficiency and enforce compliance among direct reports. 
• Other tasks and responsibilities as determined by their manager.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of lumber and building materials markets. 
• Experience with category management, merchandising, pricing, and sourcing. 
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. 
• Proficiency in ERP/inventory systems and Microsoft Excel. 
• Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership abilities. 

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in the lumber / building materials (LBM), millwork, or construction-products industry strongly preferred.
• University degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5–8+ years in purchasing, merchandising, category management, or supply chain, including experience managing or developing direct reports.
• Experience in negotiations and strong business acumen.
• Ability to calculate discounts, proportions, percentages, area, and volume, and must know dimensional lumber units of measure.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Walking: Occasionally (up to 3 hours per day) 
• Standing: Occasionally (up to 3 hours per day)
• Sitting: Frequently (3-6 hours per day) 
• Bending/Twisting: Occasionally (up to 3 hours per day) 
• Squatting/Stooping: Occasionally (up to 3 hours per day) 
• Climbing: Occasionally (up to 3 hours per day) 
• Pushing/Pulling: Occasionally (up to 3 hours per day) 
• Lifting 0-25 lbs.: Occasionally 
• Lifting 26-50 lbs.: Occasionally 
• Carrying 0-25 lbs.: Occasionally 
• Carrying 26-50 lbs.: Occasionally 
• Ability to travel to stores, vendor meetings, and industry events as required. 

Central Valley is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

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