Director - Category Management - SalonCentric
L'Oréal, Clearwater, FL, United States
Position
Director, Category Management
Department Category Management
Reports To VP, Category Management
Location National Operating Center, Clearwater, FL
Summary The Director, Category Management is a strategic leadership role guiding the vision and execution of a portfolio of brands and/or category of business within the professional beauty market. This role manages the end-to-end lifecycle, encompassing strategic go-to-market planning and the cultivation of strong market positioning for their business. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with executive presence who is able to navigate complex coordination within a matrixed environment. This role requires seamless collaboration with cross‑functional teams—including Supply Chain, Marketing, and Finance—to execute a comprehensive merchandising strategy across stores, commercial sales, and E‑Commerce.
Key Responsibilities Strategic Merchandising & Brand Development
Strong Brand Partnerships are a priority!
Category Leadership: Champion a multi‑year strategic vision for assigned category of business and/or portfolio of brands.
Assess portfolio white space and develop line architecture to support the evolving needs of the professional.
Launch & Market Strategy: Drive high‑impact brand launches. Lead in‑depth analysis of global trends and translate insights into actionable sales strategies.
Financial Performance: Achieve ambitious sales, profit, and inventory turnover goals through meticulous forecasting and data‑driven promotional planning.
Lifecycle Management: Formulate strategic exit strategies for underperforming items to optimize portfolio health and resource allocation.
Leadership & People Management
Plan and lead milestone meetings for the department.
Lead and develop a team of merchants aligned to shared goals and metrics.
Influence and inspire cross‑functional teams to execute against strategic vision to deliver sales goals.
Operational Leadership: Model a culture of accountability and excellence, establishing clear priorities to meet channel goals related to sales, inventory, and productivity.
Operational Excellence
Policy & Financial Oversight: Ensure strict adherence to company standards regarding inventory control and loss prevention. Conduct deep‑diving financial reviews to strategically react to business trends.
Continuous Improvement: Drive the adoption of cutting‑edge technology and process innovations to enhance departmental efficiency.
Strategic Engagement: Conduct regular field visits and store audits to ensure consistent brand representation and gather market insights.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field required; MBA highly preferred.
Experience
8‑10+ years of progressive leadership in retail management, merchandising, or brand development.
Financial Acumen: Proven success in large‑scale P&L management, budget oversight, and driving top‑line sales growth.
People Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead large teams through organizational change and influence executive‑level stakeholders.
Negotiation: Extensive experience leading high‑stakes contract negotiations with major partners.
Industry Knowledge: Experience in beauty, cosmetics, or professional salon industries is highly desirable.
Skills & Competencies
Executive Presence: Ability to inspire confidence and influence senior leaders across a matrixed organization.
Strategic Thinking: Superior ability to analyze complex data and formulate bold decisions that drive market leadership.
Communication: Exceptional presentation skills with the ability to articulate complex narratives to large audiences and executive boards.
Problem Solving: Advanced capability to address ambiguous challenges with data‑driven, innovative solutions.
Technological Proficiency: Advanced skills in ERP systems, CRM, and analytics tools (Microsoft Office Suite).
Benefits
Competitive Benefit Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K)
Hybrid Work Policy (3 Days in Office, 2 Days Work from Home)
Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L’Oréal’s Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
Learning & Development Opportunities for Career Progression (Unlimited Access to E‑learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs
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Department Category Management
Reports To VP, Category Management
Location National Operating Center, Clearwater, FL
Summary The Director, Category Management is a strategic leadership role guiding the vision and execution of a portfolio of brands and/or category of business within the professional beauty market. This role manages the end-to-end lifecycle, encompassing strategic go-to-market planning and the cultivation of strong market positioning for their business. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with executive presence who is able to navigate complex coordination within a matrixed environment. This role requires seamless collaboration with cross‑functional teams—including Supply Chain, Marketing, and Finance—to execute a comprehensive merchandising strategy across stores, commercial sales, and E‑Commerce.
Key Responsibilities Strategic Merchandising & Brand Development
Strong Brand Partnerships are a priority!
Category Leadership: Champion a multi‑year strategic vision for assigned category of business and/or portfolio of brands.
Assess portfolio white space and develop line architecture to support the evolving needs of the professional.
Launch & Market Strategy: Drive high‑impact brand launches. Lead in‑depth analysis of global trends and translate insights into actionable sales strategies.
Financial Performance: Achieve ambitious sales, profit, and inventory turnover goals through meticulous forecasting and data‑driven promotional planning.
Lifecycle Management: Formulate strategic exit strategies for underperforming items to optimize portfolio health and resource allocation.
Leadership & People Management
Plan and lead milestone meetings for the department.
Lead and develop a team of merchants aligned to shared goals and metrics.
Influence and inspire cross‑functional teams to execute against strategic vision to deliver sales goals.
Operational Leadership: Model a culture of accountability and excellence, establishing clear priorities to meet channel goals related to sales, inventory, and productivity.
Operational Excellence
Policy & Financial Oversight: Ensure strict adherence to company standards regarding inventory control and loss prevention. Conduct deep‑diving financial reviews to strategically react to business trends.
Continuous Improvement: Drive the adoption of cutting‑edge technology and process innovations to enhance departmental efficiency.
Strategic Engagement: Conduct regular field visits and store audits to ensure consistent brand representation and gather market insights.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field required; MBA highly preferred.
Experience
8‑10+ years of progressive leadership in retail management, merchandising, or brand development.
Financial Acumen: Proven success in large‑scale P&L management, budget oversight, and driving top‑line sales growth.
People Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead large teams through organizational change and influence executive‑level stakeholders.
Negotiation: Extensive experience leading high‑stakes contract negotiations with major partners.
Industry Knowledge: Experience in beauty, cosmetics, or professional salon industries is highly desirable.
Skills & Competencies
Executive Presence: Ability to inspire confidence and influence senior leaders across a matrixed organization.
Strategic Thinking: Superior ability to analyze complex data and formulate bold decisions that drive market leadership.
Communication: Exceptional presentation skills with the ability to articulate complex narratives to large audiences and executive boards.
Problem Solving: Advanced capability to address ambiguous challenges with data‑driven, innovative solutions.
Technological Proficiency: Advanced skills in ERP systems, CRM, and analytics tools (Microsoft Office Suite).
Benefits
Competitive Benefit Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K)
Hybrid Work Policy (3 Days in Office, 2 Days Work from Home)
Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L’Oréal’s Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
Learning & Development Opportunities for Career Progression (Unlimited Access to E‑learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs
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