Associate Category Manager
Zoro US
Company Summary
Zoro.com is a leading eCommerce platform offering nearly 15 million tools, parts and supplies for our business customers. Launched in 2011, we brought a B2C-like experience to the B2B industry, and continue to be at the forefront of digital innovation at the intersection of technology and distribution. We have rapidly grown to over $1 billion in annual revenue and we’re just getting started!
Primary Function:
At Zoro, we desire to have every product for every business need. Associate Category Managers are key contributors to our growth in both sales and category expansion. The Category Management team is responsible for defining strategies for our key categories and then finding and managing supplier relationships that allow us to add products and drive growth in those categories.
An Associate Category Manager’s success will be defined by helping operationalize and accelerate the sales of the existing portfolio of products. The Associate Category Manager is responsible for supporting aligned Category Managers analyzing the business and executing tactics for assigned categories. This position will work in a team environment with a focus on developing insights, identifying opportunities and communicating recommendations to lead future industry growth to our internal partners and external suppliers. In addition, they will drive and support activities that help Zoro sell more products and manage cost and profitability. The Associate Category Manager will execute reporting and analysis to support assigned product categories to inform on category and supplier performance, collaborate closely with cross-functional partners throughout the business, and participate in supplier relationship management. The Associate Category Manager will be a key liaison with internal partners to help drive customer experience and sales performance.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Create, manage and update reports regarding new suppliers, SKU productivity, sales performance, and assortment gaps
- Continually and proactively monitor the financial performance of categories and suppliers to measure against the category product strategies and KPI’s to ensure we are providing an awesome customer experience
- Proactively identify areas within aligned categories for product expansion and product optimization. Take ownership over identified expansion and optimization activities with support of CM and/or Sr. CM
- Work with suppliers to acquire comprehensive product information including product specifications, product images, pricing information, and additional product content; This effort will require cross-functional partnership as well as direct supplier interaction
- Collaborate with and influence cross-functional teams to execute on the category strategy
Qualifications:
- 1-3 years of experience in a related field is preferred
- Experience in distribution, online marketplaces, wholesale, e-commerce a plus
- Experience analyzing data, building presentations and communicating effectively through data
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Curious and rapid learning ability
- Ability to be flexible and adaptable to work in a fast-paced, agile environment
- Ability to communicate in a clear and compelling manner in written, verbal, and interpersonal forms
- Computer skills including building presentations, analyzing data, communicating information, and internet search techniques
Total Rewards
Zoro’s total compensation plan includes our Zoro Incentive Plan (ZIP) that is designed to foster and reward our team members for strong performance. Total compensation will be highly competitive.
In addition to competitive compensation, Zoro offers comprehensive benefits and perks including:
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment
- Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents. We also support growing your family through access to adoption assistance program
- 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist and Wellhub portal membership to support your mental and emotional wellbeing
- At least 18 paid time off days annually for full-time employees and 6 company holidays per year
- 6% company contribution to a 401K Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required
- Tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and access to financial counseling, education, and tools
- Charitable Gift Program - match gift to an eligible educational, cultural, community health, and human service organizations
- Employee discounts and admission to various civic and cultural institutions around Chicago
- Zoro office perks including coffee bar, beer on tap, unlimited snacks, access to the onsite gym, and incredible city skyline views
For additional information and details regarding our benefits and our parent company, W. W. Grainger, please click on the link here.
Our Culture
Zoro was founded in 2011 with a simple idea: make it easy for businesses to get the tools, parts, and supplies they need to keep things running. We've grown by staying curious, moving quickly, and solving everyday challenges in smart, practical ways. Backed by W.W. Grainger and inspired by our endless assortment business model, we’re on a clear path toward our next big milestone: $2 billion in revenue—and beyond.
At Zoro, we don’t just follow a playbook—we help build it. You’ll get to work on real problems with a supportive team that shares ideas freely, learns from each other, and celebrates wins together. Our culture is grounded in values that guide how we show up every day: Winning & Learning Together, Being Customer Obsessed, Being Transparent, and Taking Ownership. We don’t have all the answers, but we’re always asking good questions.
Zoro’s culture has been recognized by Fortune, Best Places to Work, and Built In Chicago—but the recognition we care about most comes from our team members, who make this place what it is.
We also know that flexibility matters. Our hybrid work model gives you space to focus and the flexibility to live your life — asking team members to be onsite at least two days a week. Our Chicago HQ (right above Ogilvie Transportation Center in the Accenture Tower) is always open and ready for connection, collaboration, or just a good cup of coffee.
At Zoro, we’re growing fast toward big aspirations — and we’re continuously excited about the new challenges we get to solve together.
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are also committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment. Should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview, or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.