Category Manager Leader

Bunzl Cdn-Direct R3
Canada-Direcct/R3 - Burlington
4240 Harvester Rd
Burlington, ON , CAN

We are looking for a Category Manager Leader, with a proven track record of delivering product category profitability growth. The successful candidate has a proven track record of delivering category sales, margin, and market share growth by partnering with the business to develop and implement category strategy, using their strong product development and sourcing skills.

The Category Manager Leader is entrusted with end-to-end accountability for profitable growth and strategic direction across assigned product categories. This pivotal leadership role demands a visionary who leverages advanced market, product, and sourcing acumen to architect and execute strategies that drive sustained business performance. The incumbent will champion transformative initiatives, aligning category objectives with organizational imperatives and capitalizing on significant market opportunities.

A critical aspect of this role is the proactive management of vendor relationships and contract negotiations, ensuring that all agreements and partnerships directly contribute to the growth and profitability of the overall program.

• Strategic Leadership
• Formulate and operationalize multi-year category strategies that deliver superior sales, margin, and market share growth.
• Architect category portfolios that balance own brands, innovation, national brands, and sustainability, anticipating and shaping market trends.
• Partner with executive leadership to set and surpass ambitious performance benchmarks.
• Product Innovation, Sourcing Excellence & Vendor Management
• Govern the stage gate process for new product development, ensuring market differentiation and optimal cost structures.
• Direct sourcing strategies to cultivate high-value vendor partnerships and maximize profitability.
• Lead vendor management initiatives, including the negotiation and administration of contracts, to secure favorable terms and drive continuous improvement in supplier performance.
• Ensure that all vendor agreements and sourcing activities are strategically aligned to enhance overall program profitability.
• Deploy advanced analytics for cost, capacity, and competitive positioning.
• Build, inspire, and elevate a high-performing category management organization, instilling a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous advancement.
• Mentor talent, fostering leadership succession and measurable professional growth.
• Drive cross-border and cross-functional collaboration to unlock enterprise-wide value.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Influence
• Forge strategic alliances with sustainability leaders, regulatory bodies, and industry associations.
• Ensure seamless communication and strategic alignment across all organizational levels and business units.
• Strategic Business Acumen:
  Mastery in category management, sourcing, and vendor management, with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to complex business challenges.
• Transformational Leadership:
  Exemplifies ethical leadership, inspires high performance, and cultivates a collaborative, results-driven culture.
• Competitive Drive:
  Benchmarks against industry leaders, relentlessly pursuing excellence and team development.
• Results Orientation:
  Sets clear expectations, embraces accountability, and measures success by tangible outcomes.

• Extensive senior-level experience in category management, ideally within distribution or wholesale sectors.
• Demonstrated expertise in sourcing, purchasing, market analysis, new product development, vendor management, and contract negotiation.
• Proven ability to make strategic, customer-centric decisions aligned with corporate objectives.
• Innovative mindset with a track record of driving competitiveness and leading change.
• Advanced analytical and relationship-building skills; thrives in high-pressure, deadline-driven environments.

Bunzl provides the food and retail packaging, cleaning supplies and equipment, safety products and industrial packaging that keeps over 45,000 businesses in Canada running optimally, every day.

Bunzl plc is a global…