Entry Level Category Manager Jobs
New grad category manager jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong internship work or a relevant portfolio can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Technology & Software, Retail, and E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces, with employers like TikTok, Amazon, and Kroger hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 30+ Entry Level Category Manager jobs
- 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
- 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 30 Entry Level Category Manager Jobs
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Find JobsEntry Level Category Manager Job Market
Who's Hiring
- TikTok14
- Amazon5
- Kroger2
- Logitech2
- Elanco1
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software18
- Retail5
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces4
- Manufacturing3
- Food & Beverage1
Entry Level Category Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level category manager job?
Employers hiring at the entry level look for candidates who understand procurement basics, vendor relationships, and data analysis, even from coursework or internships. Highlighting experience with category planning tools, Excel, or supplier coordination gives you an edge. A degree in business, supply chain, or marketing is common, but internship projects or coursework that show analytical thinking can carry equal weight at this stage.
Which companies hire entry level category managers?
Companies hiring entry level category managers right now include TikTok, Amazon, and Kroger, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Retailers, consumer goods companies, and large procurement-driven organizations tend to be the most active hirers at this level, often building out junior category teams to support senior managers.
Are there remote entry level category manager jobs?
Yes, though on-site and hybrid roles make up the majority of openings at this level. About 23% of entry level category manager openings are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, so candidates open to in-office work will find a broader range of opportunities, particularly at larger retailers and procurement teams that prefer hands-on onboarding for junior hires.
Are these new grad category manager jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior category manager roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts internship or co-op work as a substitute for full-time history, or lists a portfolio and coursework as qualifying credentials. If a job description does not require prior full-time experience, it is worth applying to as a new grad.
Which industries hire the most entry level category managers?
Entry Level category manager roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Retail, and E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. These sectors drive consistent junior hiring because their purchasing cycles, supplier networks, and product assortments require dedicated category support that organizations often build by bringing in early-career talent and training them on internal processes.