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Remote Category Manager jobs

8 open positions in the United States, newest first.

Category managers own a defined group of products or spend and are responsible for its commercial performance. In retail and e-commerce that means deciding the assortment, pricing and promotions for a product category. In procurement it means managing what the company buys in a spend category, such as software or logistics, including supplier selection and contracts.

About the Category Manager role

What the work looks like

  • Analyze sales, margin and market data for the category to decide what to add, drop or reprice.
  • Negotiate costs, terms and promotional funding with suppliers and hold regular supplier performance reviews.
  • Build the category plan, setting assortment, pricing tiers and the promotional calendar for the season or year.
  • Run sourcing events such as requests for proposal and compare bids on total cost, quality and risk.
  • Work with supply chain, marketing and finance on forecasts, inventory levels and launch timing.

What employers ask for

  • Category strategy and assortment planning
  • Supplier negotiation and contract management
  • Advanced Excel and data analysis
  • Retail sales data or spend analytics tools
  • Strategic sourcing and RFP processes
  • Margin and total cost analysis

Doing this job remotely

The analytical and planning work is spreadsheet and system based, and supplier meetings run well over video. Retail category roles may still call for store visits, line reviews with physical samples and trade shows. Procurement category managers travel less, though supplier site visits and internal stakeholder workshops do come up.

Where it comes from and where it leads

Category managers typically start as buyers, assistant category managers, procurement analysts or in supplier-side sales. They advance to senior category manager, then to head of category or director of merchandising or procurement.