Category Manager, Home Computers & Entertainment Why This Role Matters Our Home Computers & Entertainment categories play a key role in shaping the customer experience across our retail network. As Category Manager, Home Computers & Entertainment, you will lead the strategic direction of the category, guide a team of Buyers, and drive financial performance through strong merchandising judgment, vendor partnerships, and data‑driven decision‑making. This role requires a leader who can set a clear category vision, anticipate market trends, and collaborate effectively across the business to deliver sales growth, margin improvement, and a differentiated customer experience. What You’ll Do Team Leadership & Development Lead and develop a team of Buyers responsible for product selection, vendor management, and category performance Set performance expectations, provide ongoing coaching, and conduct performance reviews Build buying expertise through training, mentoring, and skill development Foster a culture of customer focus, merchandising excellence, and financial discipline Category Strategy & Planning Develop long‑range category strategies that drive sales, margin, and competitive differentiation Define category vision including assortment architecture, pricing position, and promotional strategy Analyze market trends, competitive activity, and customer insights to inform strategic direction Partner with Merchandise Planning on financial plans, including sales, margin, and inventory targets Lead seasonal planning and buying cycles to ensure timely execution Evaluate new category opportunities and recommend expansion or rationalization Financial Management & Performance Own category P&L including sales, margin, inventory investment, and profitability Manage Open‑to‑Buy budgets in partnership with Planning Establish pricing strategies and margin targets that balance competitiveness and profitability Monitor financial performance and take action to address shortfalls or capitalize on opportunities Analyze sales trends, margin performance, and inventory productivity to identify improvements Manage promotional budgets and assess ROI on promotional investments Vendor & Industry Relationships Build strategic relationships with key vendors and brand partners Negotiate agreements including cost structures, payment terms, and promotional funding Evaluate vendor partnerships and make decisions on vendor additions, deletions, and resource allocation Attend major trade shows and industry events to identify trends and discover new products Stay current on industry developments, competitive activity, and emerging brands Assortment & Merchandising Excellence Establish assortment principles including good‑better‑best frameworks, private label strategy, and brand mix Review and approve assortment plans to ensure alignment with category strategy and financial goals Partner with Space Planning on category space allocation, planogram standards, and merchandising principles Drive merchandising excellence through clear visual standards and strong in‑store presentation Evaluate assortment productivity and make decisions on item additions, deletions, and replacements Cross‑Functional Collaboration In this leadership role, you will work closely with Merchandise Planning, Pricing, Space Planning, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Store Operations to ensure category strategies are executed effectively across the business. You will also influence senior leadership through data‑driven recommendations and clear communication of category strategies. Partner with Planning on forecasting, inventory strategies, and allocation optimization Collaborate with Pricing on competitive positioning, promotional strategy, and markdown management Work with Marketing on promotional campaigns, circular planning, and customer communication Coordinate with Supply Chain on vendor performance, logistics, and inventory flow Engage with Store Operations on merchandising execution, product training, and field feedback What You Bring Core Skills & Competencies Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop long‑term category visions, anticipate market trends, and connect decisions to broader business objectives Leadership: Experience building high‑performing teams through coaching, development, and clear direction Merchandising Excellence: Strong product judgment and trend identification; ability to create assortments that resonate with customers Financial Acumen: Ability to manage category P&L, make investment decisions, and translate financial analysis into action Business Partnership: Strong collaboration skills with the ability to influence cross‑functional partners through data and clear communication Results Orientation: Proven ability to drive improvements in sales, margin, and market share Customer Focus: Deep understanding of customer needs and shopping behaviors; ability to evaluate decisions through the customer lens Required Qualifications Proven track record of category leadership with success driving sales growth and margin improvement Deep category expertise with strong product knowledge and understanding of customer needs and market dynamics Strong financial acumen with experience managing P&L, Open‑to‑Buy, and category financial performance Proven negotiation skills and experience building strategic vendor partnerships Excellent communication and presentation skills, including comfort presenting to senior leadership Strategic thinking with ability to translate category vision into actionable plans Preferred Qualifications Experience with relevant Entertainment categories Experience working with Planning, Pricing, and Space Planning teams Familiarity with retail analytics and reporting tools Experience managing categories in multi‑store retail environments Background in both physical retail and e‑commerce Equal Opportunity Employer London Drugs is an equal opportunity employer. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work applicable to this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. #J-18808-Ljbffr