Carrier Enterprise (CE) is a subsidiary of the largest independent HVAC/R distribution company in the world, WATSCO, Inc. CE proudly distributes the Carrier, Bryant, Payne, Gree and Midea brands of HVAC equipment, as well as a full line of aftermarket parts, supplies, and accessories. CE has over 150 locations throughout 28 states, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and Latin America, with over 1,600 employees ready to serve and provide the best products with best-in-class customer service.
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Parts & Supplies Category Manager supporting CE Domestic regions. The Parts & Supplies Category Manager will play a crucial role in managing and optimizing the parts and supplies category within the organization. This is a remote position and reports to the HQ, Director of Parts & Supplies, Product Management.
Major Tasks, Responsibilities & Key Accountabilities
Strategy & Planning:
- Full Parts & Supplies Product Ownership. Collaborate with HQ and Regional Product Management to manage Assortment, Supplier Relations and execute negotiations.
- Consult with Suppliers to obtain or introduce innovative technologies and products that boost organizational competitiveness and drive corporate profitability for the organization.
- Work with all required Organizational Functions to develop, support and maintain Product Sales, Marketing, and Inventory strategies for the Residential Equipment offerings within identified categories.
- Liaison with the Regional Leadership and Product Managers on company initiatives, sales strategies, and category trends.
- Interface with HQ Inventory, Planning, Pricing, Operations and Finance teams providing guidance and support on category trends/needs.
Delivery & Execution:
- Support CE Leadership and Sales teams in all customer channels.
- Create awareness and be knowledgeable on Parts & Supplies Programs within identified categories and collaborate/develop product promotions.
- Lead development of new product launch elements in conjunction with cross functional teams for regional implementation.
- Creation of Product promotion development for HQ and/or Regional execution.
- Analyze competitive data, pricing and make recommendations for HQ and Regional response.
- Liaison and direct supplier actions to ensure status update/issue resolution.
- Perform monthly/quarterly evaluation of the competitive landscape, product, and cost updates.
- Provides product expertise and industry trend knowledge to the planning, forecasting process.
- Communicate with category suppliers and CE stakeholders to ensure product knowledge, provide input to the advantages/disadvantages, product gaps and voice of customer.
- Manage product cost and collaborate on sell price positioning within the category to maximize market share and company profit margins assigning min/max price levels.
- Work with new and designated Parts & Supplies partners to ensure they are providing the best pricing to ensure purchasing power to support sales support to the CE Organization.
- Manage P&S Product costs on 70% of Core Assortment.
- Assist Regional Parts and Supplies teams with store merchandising.
- Provide SKU, sales data, and all required analytics to Regional Parts and Supplies Product Managers to ensure proper parts and supplies inventory exists at all Branches to satisfy identified facing requirements.
- Ensure creation, implementation, and accuracy of Associated Items (CSD), Frequently Bought Together (FBT's on e-Comm).
- Manage model supersedes, new SKU set up and SKU designation utilizing Stage Gate Process.
- Provide oversight and assist regional sell-through and disposition of designated Residential Equipment Suppliers Excess, Surplus and Damaged (ESD) as well as Non-Performing Inventory (NPI
People/Training/Communication:
- Support Regional Product Managers and sales team with written updates and direction on categories of products.
- Identify Training requirements, direct and support Parts, and Supplies product training for internal/external customers.
- Manage repository of product, sales, and pricing information to be accessible by all sales team channels.
- Provide reporting for CE Regional Monthly and Quarterly business reviews for identified Categories of responsibility and reporting for share-holder review (i.e., CE HQ/Regional Leadership, WSO, Carrier Corp).
- Communicate inventory levels of parts and supplies to strike the right balance between product availability and working capital.
- Other initiatives, tasks and duties as directed by Carrier Enterprise Leadership team.