Sr. Category Manager - Grocery and General Merchandise

Our client is preparing to launch a new large format warehouse retail concept, an ambitious high volume environment designed to bring exceptional value, breadth of assortment, and a dynamic customer experience to the market. As part of this major new opening, they are building a category leadership team that can lay the foundation for how the business buys, merchandises, and competes in a fast moving retail landscape. The Senior Category Manager, Grocery and General Merchandise will lead the team in establishing the product strategy and commercial framework for this launch. This is not a traditional corporate buying role. It requires someone who thrives in an entrepreneurial setting where processes are being built from the ground up, agility is essential, and decisions have a direct and immediate impact on business results. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape the entire category vision, including sourcing strategy, vendor partnerships, pricing approach, assortment architecture, and margin optimization. They will work closely with senior leadership to support both the store opening and long term growth. They are looking for a commercially minded, analytical category expert with hands on experience across high volume grocery and general merchandise environments. Candidates must bring strong negotiation capabilities, a deep understanding of retail, liquidation and bulk distribution, and the ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical execution. DescriptionKey ResponsibilitiesDevelop and execute category strategies across grocery and general merchandise, including:Fresh and packaged foodsGrocery staples and consumablesHousehold and cleaning suppliesApparel and footwearConsumer electronics and appliancesSeasonal, promotional, and opportunistic itemsLead bulk purchasing and negotiate supplier partnerships to secure competitive pricing, volume discounts, and strong margins.Build scalable buying and category management processes suited to a high-volume start-up setting.Analyze trends, customer insights, and competitive dynamics to identify new product opportunities and optimize category performance.Monitor inventory levels and guide replenishment processes to ensure availability, cost efficiency, and sell-through.Evaluate supplier performance, reliability, and product quality.Use sales, margin, and category analytics to forecast demand and refine purchasing strategies.Manage category budgets and deliver margin, profitability, and inventory targets.Track KPIs related to category performance, vendor metrics, and purchasing efficiency.Apply merchandising principles, including space utilization, product density, and presentation standards.Assess category movement and customer traffic patterns to measure the impact of promotions, seasonality, and assortment decisions.Requirements5–7 years of experience in wholesale/liquidation purchasing, category management, or warehouse retail buying across grocery and general merchandise.Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, commerce, or a related field.Strong negotiation skills and proven supplier relationship management experience.Proficiency with procurement and inventory management systems; advanced Excel skills preferred.Strong analytical and commercial decision-making abilities.Highly organized and skilled at managing multiple categories in a high-volume environment.Experience in entrepreneurial or start-up retail settings is strongly preferred.Professional certifications in purchasing or category management are an asset.Corporate CultureCompetitive salary based on experiencePerformance-based incentivesEmployee purchasing discountsOpportunities for career advancement as the retail concept growsSupportive, collaborative workplace with significant autonomy and impactContact Liz Crompton at 416.410.5316 x6 or submit your resume in confidence below.