Assistant Category Manager Jobs
Assistant Category Manager jobs are open across retail, consumer packaged goods, grocery, and e-commerce, at every level from entry-level coordinator to senior, with specializations in merchandising, vendor management, and private label development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 16+ Assistant Category Manager jobs
Here, people matter. That's why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you're caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited.
Whether you're seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we've got a fresh opportunity for you. Apply today to become part of our Kroger family!
What you'll receive from us:
The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:
- A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
- Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
- Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching with Goldman Sachs Ayco.
- Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
- Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
- Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.
- 2+ years of experience with replenishment buying/procurement, merchandising, store assistant leader, operations or brand management
- Intermediate knowledge of Excel, Word and Outlook
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent oral/written communication skills
- Bachelor's Degree
- Any replenishment buying/procurement experience
- Any division store management experience
- Any exposure to Kroger Category Management Systems, Business Objects, Enterprise Sales Planning (ESP) and 84.51 sciences
- Manage data analysis and day-to-day communication with vendors, 84.51 and Our Brands, and divisions for discrete area; ensure all inputs are gathered in a timely and comprehensive manner
- Validate local requests with data analysis and align on jointly-defined KPIs with the division
- Monitor SKU performance on an ongoing assortment to meet financial and strategic goals; establish feedback loop with CM to inform of potential adjustments
- Make recommendations on category budgets, forecasts, and plans; identify trends in business and competitive landscape that may affect health of business
- Support assortment work and testing process for CMs
- Assist with ad-hoc analysis to drive business forward, such as to evaluate decisions to deviate from pricing algorithm recommendations or react to competitor price moves or cost changes
- Be proficient across all systems (NEXT, Stratum, etc.)
- Support CM in driving promotional strategy to engage customers and drive excitement
- Review past ad performance and information on shelf capacity, store sales, and display locations to inform future promotional recommendations
- Assist in supply chain issue resolution with replenishment; update CMs before regular checkpoints and engage as needed to provide direction
- Organize and manage information sharing with vendor, including product lists /SKU information, directional forecast needs, etc
- Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
Here, people matter. That's why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you're caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited.
Whether you're seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we've got a fresh opportunity for you. Apply today to become part of our Kroger family!
What you'll receive from us:
The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:
- A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
- Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
- Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching with Goldman Sachs Ayco.
- Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
- Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
- Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.
- 2+ years of experience with replenishment buying/procurement, merchandising, store assistant leader, operations or brand management
- Intermediate knowledge of Excel, Word and Outlook
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent oral/written communication skills
- Bachelor's Degree
- Any replenishment buying/procurement experience
- Any division store management experience
- Any exposure to Kroger Category Management Systems, Business Objects, Enterprise Sales Planning (ESP) and 84.51 sciences
- Manage data analysis and day-to-day communication with vendors, 84.51 and Our Brands, and divisions for discrete area; ensure all inputs are gathered in a timely and comprehensive manner
- Validate local requests with data analysis and align on jointly-defined KPIs with the division
- Monitor SKU performance on an ongoing assortment to meet financial and strategic goals; establish feedback loop with CM to inform of potential adjustments
- Make recommendations on category budgets, forecasts, and plans; identify trends in business and competitive landscape that may affect health of business
- Support assortment work and testing process for CMs
- Assist with ad-hoc analysis to drive business forward, such as to evaluate decisions to deviate from pricing algorithm recommendations or react to competitor price moves or cost changes
- Be proficient across all systems (NEXT, Stratum, etc.)
- Support CM in driving promotional strategy to engage customers and drive excitement
- Review past ad performance and information on shelf capacity, store sales, and display locations to inform future promotional recommendations
- Assist in supply chain issue resolution with replenishment; update CMs before regular checkpoints and engage as needed to provide direction
- Organize and manage information sharing with vendor, including product lists /SKU information, directional forecast needs, etc
- Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
See All 16 Assistant Category Manager Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsAssistant Category Manager Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Automotive
- Luxury Goods
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in assistant category manager jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in business, merchandising, marketing, or a related field
- Experience with category management software, planogram tools, or space planning platforms
- Proficiency in Excel or data analysis tools for sales, margin, and inventory reporting
- Familiarity with syndicated data sources such as Nielsen, Circana, or IRI
- Experience supporting assortment reviews, line reviews, or vendor negotiations
- Strong cross-functional communication skills with buying, marketing, and supply chain teams
Tips for Your Assistant Category Manager Job Search
Quantify your category performance results
Hiring managers want to see the business impact you drove, not just your responsibilities. Replace vague bullets with specific outcomes like margin improvement, sell-through rate gains, or SKU rationalization results from past category reviews or buyer collaborations.
Tailor your resume to each retailer type
A grocery buyer reads a resume differently than a mass-market or specialty retailer does. Adjust your language to reflect the category logic, planogram conventions, and vendor relationship norms specific to each format you apply to.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists assistant category manager openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Highlight cross-functional collaboration on resumes
Assistant category manager roles sit at the intersection of buying, marketing, and supply chain. Explicitly name the teams you partnered with, whether that was private label, demand planning, or merchandising ops, so reviewers see your coordination experience.
Prepare for a category review case study
Many interviews include a whiteboard or take-home exercise where you analyze a category, identify gaps, and recommend assortment changes. Practice structuring your analysis around consumer data, competitive benchmarking, and financial metrics before your first round.
Negotiate by anchoring to scope and autonomy
If the base offer is firm, push on category size, vendor ownership, and exposure to category strategy work. These define your growth path far more than a small salary difference, and most hiring managers have more flexibility here than on base pay.
Assistant Category Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most assistant category managers?
The Hershey Company, Kroger, and Staples are hiring the most assistant category managers right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Retail, grocery, and consumer packaged goods companies consistently drive the highest volume of openings at this level.
How many assistant category manager jobs are remote?
About 50% of assistant category manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though the share varies significantly by employer type. Roles focused on data analysis, vendor communication, and category reporting tend to offer the most location flexibility, while positions tied to store-level planogram work or on-site buyer collaboration are more likely to require in-office presence.
How do you become an assistant category manager?
Most assistant category managers start in retail buying, merchandising coordination, or CPG sales before moving into the role. Build foundational skills in data analysis, assortment planning, and vendor relationship management. Gaining hands-on experience with category reviews, planogram resets, or space planning tools accelerates your path, as does earning a business or merchandising degree that hiring managers commonly require.
How do you get hired as an assistant category manager with little experience?
Start by targeting companies with formal retail or buying rotational programs, which are designed for candidates building their category management foundation. Emphasize transferable skills from adjacent roles in demand planning, retail operations, or CPG sales. Demonstrating familiarity with syndicated data sources and the ability to build a category analysis from scratch, even from a class project or internship, will differentiate you from other entry-level applicants.
What does the assistant category manager interview process look like?
Most interview processes include an initial phone screen with a recruiter, followed by a competency-based interview with the hiring manager focused on analytical thinking and cross-functional collaboration. A category review case study or take-home data exercise is common at mid-process, where you analyze assortment performance and present recommendations. Final rounds typically involve conversations with senior buyers or cross-functional partners from marketing or supply chain.
Where can I find and apply to assistant category manager jobs?
You can find and apply to assistant category manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 16 Assistant Category Manager Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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