Category Director - Jobs in Toronto, Ontario, M6A 1Z4

Job Description

Take your Career to the next Level with MEVOTECH.Mevotech is a trusted North American aftermarket auto parts leader that specializes in the engineering, design and distribution of driveline, steering and suspension parts (branded and private label). Fueled by innovation, our brands feature engineering improvements for maximum durability and performance.With over 600 Canadian and U.S. team members, we can attribute our continued success to the passion, spirit and dedication of our employees. Mevotech was recognized with the Canada’s Best Managed Companies award in 2023 and 2024 for its industry-leading performance, global business practices, and sustained growth. Check out our career website to learn about our amazing culture and our commitment to employee wellness and engagement. https://www.mevotech.com/about-us/careers/Reporting to the Vice President, Product Management, the Category Director, Automotive Aftermarket will play a pivotal role in developing and executing the overall strategy for product categories for Mevotech.As a leader throughout the product launch phase, the role will drive sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction.This requires a dynamic and experienced individual with a passion for the aftermarket, a proven track record in product strategy, and an aptitude for category management.Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Complete Category Knowledge –Holistic knowledge of product category, from engineering, right through to sales and inventory strategy. Requires the ability to distill product features, benefits, and information down to the key messages for field staff and customers (also responsible for maintenance of category “romance” data).
• Competitive/Market Intelligence – Monitoring of market trends and key category competitors, including SWOT analysis and other relevant activities. This includes maintaining our internal “competitive edge” assessments, as well as retail price tracking.
• Strategic Planning - Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for the product category. This involves analyzing market trends, understanding customer needs, and aligning the category strategy with overall business goals.
• Customer Inventory/Sales Optimization - Monitor customer sales to gauge success and growth opportunities. Optimize inventory models to ensure appropriate product coverage, while avoiding excess stock and associated issues.Conduct regular reviews for key accounts to ensure inventories remain current.
• Product Selection/Lifecycle Management - Choose the right mix to support customer strategy, with a focus on lifecycle and appropriate brand grading. This includes managing new releases, identifying new opportunities, monitoring sales and warranty performance, and deciding when to phase out or introduce new parts.
• Category and Customer Training – Regular preparation and presentation of training materials for the field that translates inputs from engineering (and other reviews) into clear strategic/marketing messages that put our products in the best light possible, while being easy to understand.
• Marketing and Promotion - Collaborate with the Marketing team on effective promotional campaigns, product launches, and merchandising strategies. Monitor the success of these initiatives and adjust strategies based on performance data.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration - Collaborate with various departments (including Product Management, Sales, Marketing, Cataloging, IT, Customer Service, and Finance) to ensure effective communication and alignment of strategies. Work closely with the sales team to incorporate customer feedback and data insights into category plans.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Utilize data analytics tools to monitor key performance indicators, sales trends, and other relevant metrics. Generate reports and insights to inform decision-making processes and continually refine the category strategy.

Qualifications, Skills, and Educational Requirements

• 10 years of relevant work experience and proven acumen in product/category management (preferably working with international vendors)
• Category management expertise: Lifecycle planning, SKU rationalization, gap analysis, and product mix optimization
• Experience working in both private label and branded product strategies
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Experience working with key customers or channel partners to align category initiatives with customer needs
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights
• Proficient in data analysis/reporting/presentation tools such as Excel, PowerPoint and Tableau/Power BI (Access or other database experience an asset)
• Problem solver with the ability to assess a situation and provide a data-centric solution
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally across the organization
• Comfortable presenting analyses and training within the team, with management and field staff, and potentially directly to customers
• Able to manage multiple projects, deadlines and deliverables

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Hybrid work environment – work onsite a minimum of 3 days per week
• Ability to travel to various facilities and attend company meetings and events

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