Job Title: Associate Product Category Manager
Reports To: Director of Product Management
Founded in 1964, Southern Marketing Affiliates is a nationwide distributor of parts for uses primarily throughout agriculture, but also for industry and general consumers. Serving some 10,000 customers from coast-to-coast, our product line of over 35,000 parts covers items from the front of the tractor to the back and everything in between and beyond. We pride ourselves on our easy-to-do-business-with, personalized style -- we call it "The SMA Way." Known as America's Ag Parts Supplier, SMA is headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas, with additional distribution centers in Corsicana, Texas; Fresno, California; and Des Moines, Iowa.
Essential Functions: Associate Product Line Manager is an integral part of Product Management achieving product growth in terms of margin and market share. Responsible for reviewing product lines and developing action plans for a limited set of product categories while continuing to provide tactical day to day support. Also researches & identifies potential sources of supply, negotiates prices, and contracts with vendors, and conducts general cost analysis. Always searching for optimum total cost of ownership. This role helps to ensure that the business is not interrupted.
Duties:
- Works with Product team to develop programs and initiatives to achieve product growth including both margin and market share.
- Conducts extensive analysis of competitor prices, product offerings, special offers
- , and sales trends within assigned product categories.
- Supports effective launch of new products and creates acceptance of existing products.
- Establish and grow advantageous domestic and international supplier relationships, negotiate, and analyze costs to provide overall product fulfillment.
- Conduct Supplier performance evaluation with assigned suppliers annually.
- Provides product training support.
- Updates packaging, catalogues, and promotional material to support sales.
- Provides support for product technical sales.
- Research quality issues.
- Coordinate supplier communication.
- Build and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders.
- Effectively communicate decision requirements and results to management and colleagues as appropriate
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree (Preferred) in any Business area
- Minimum of 3 years of Related Experience
Skills:
- Ability to communicate technical product matters in a simple and clear manner.
- Able to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan.
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
- Focuses on impact and result for the customer and responds positively to feedback.
- Demonstrates ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Proven conceptual analytical and evaluative skills and ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identifying issues, formulating options, and making conclusions and recommendations.
- Aptitude to perform statistical calculations.
- Proficient in analyzing and evaluating data.
- Strong organization, analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent customer service
Travel:
- Anticipate up to 10 days per year travel nationally including industry trade shows and field sales support.
- Possible international travel once per year meeting with suppliers
Personality and Values
- Cooperative: Working well with others is a key to success in this position!
- Reliable: Must be present at work on time and as scheduled, supporting same day shipping.
- Responsible: A self-starter with the ability to work independently as needed.
- Ready to Grow: Willingness to learn and think creatively to help build success.
The schedule is 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday – Friday.
SMA is a drug free work environment.
SMA (Southern Marketing Affiliates) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability with respect to employment opportunities. We value diversity and encourage all qualified candidates to apply.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $45,000.00 - $52,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have experience with Microsoft applications?
Experience:
- Category management: 1 year (Preferred)
- Procurement: 1 year (Preferred)
- Purchasing: 1 year (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Jonesboro, AR 72401 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Jonesboro, AR 72401: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
