Job Description

Company Description
Current Indigo employees should apply through the Internal Mobility page using your @indigo.ca email address. Dedicated to telling stories and creating experiences, Indigo is always looking for bright, energetic and customer-focused people who can help bring our exciting mission to life in one of our more than 150 Indigo, Indigospirit, Chapters and Coles stores across Canada. We offer a variety of exciting opportunities at our retail stores, distribution centres, and home office for people who share our passions and want to be part of a dynamic and enriching culture. WHO WE ARE

• We love books and all things beautiful
• We are Canada’s Cultural Department Store
• Books are our heart and our soul and Great Books are JUST the Beginning…

We play by the following rules:

• We exist to add joy to our customers’ lives each and every time they interact with us and our products
• Our job is to create joyful moments for our customers
• We treat each other the way we’d treat a valued friend
• We inspire each other to do our best work
• We seek to ignite creativity and innovation every day
• We give back to the communities in which we operate

As the Category Manager, you will be accountable for creating and implementing the vision, strategy and direction for the overall portfolio. This role is responsible for finding innovative ways to grow and support overall brand objectives. The Category Manager effectively communicates and works cross-functionally to execute strategies and plans. WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Set strategic plans for the Category that are consistent with overall company strategic plans
• Develop Strategic assortment plans, for Retail and Online, and merchandising direction for the Category to achieve key performance metrics
• Develop Seasonal Markdown and Marketing Strategies
• Leads the development of the strategic assortment for stores and online
• Meets Sales, Margin and Turn Goals given by VP
• Works closely with Design and Product Development to ensure products fulfill strategy
• Leads key negotiations with Vendors to gain best possible terms of engagement
• Leads the development of Merchandising Plans that are consistent with overall merchandising calendar
• Strategize collaboratively with Planning and Allocations to ensure the most productive allocation of inventory by category and by store
• Uses Financial Analysis to recommend action to maximize sales and profit
• Effectively strategize and recommend actions for Markdowns to maximize sales and profits
• Collaborate with Visual Merchandising to make sure Assortment Strategy is prioritized and properly reflected in in-store presentations
• Collaborate with Marketing to develop plans that are consistent with assortment strategies, and ensure assortment strategy is properly communicated in marketing materials
• Lead Quarterly assortment reviews
• Ensures the implementation and compliance of operating standards and practices across entire line of business
• Creates and maintains effective Field relationship through collaboration, communication and store visits with Field leadership team
• Stay current on market trends
• Partner with Planning and Allocation Director to develop macro space plans with support from Store Design and Visual Merchandising
• Ensure the execution of team deliverables and adapt team priorities based on changing needs
• Set/adhere to team budgets, as applicable
• Act as an advocate for the customer by placing them at the forefront of all design and decision-making processes
• Embrace and seek out technology that creates high tech and high touch solutions for Indigo’s customers
• Proactively identify and anticipate customer expectations and needs
• Challenge the status quo by consistently identifying areas for improvement, diagnosing issues and working to resolve them
• Build strong teams by attracting and developing the best talent
• Bring out the best in others, empower and constructively stretch talent
• Give authentic feedback on performance and potential
• Ensure all team members understand where they stand and have clear performance objectives aligned with Indigo and department goals
• Accountable for the overall engagement, productivity, turnover and bench strength of the team
• Collaborate with others to drive flexible and iterative solutions, quickly and easily
• Share technical knowledge with others and actively seek to learn from those more knowledgeable than yourself
• Help others see the impacts of their efforts and proactively engage other functions to get input
• Encourage others to freely share their point of view and be open to feedback
• Model Indigo’s beliefs and convey a positive image in everything you do
• Celebrate diversity of thought and have an open mindset
• Take an active role in fostering a culture of continual learning, taking risks without the fear of making mistakes
• Embrace, champion and influence change through your team and/or the organization

Qualifications
WHO YOU ARE:

• University Degree
• Experience in the Retail Industry
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in retailing, product development and category management field with progressive leadership accountability
• Proven ability to build productive business relationships with both internal and external partners
• Proven ability to negotiate effectively with external business partners
• Proven ability to establish vision and set direction for a team
• Proven ability to lead a team through change
• Strong organizational skills with ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and reacting quickly to shifting priorities
• Outstanding communication skills
• Passionate for the category
• 30% Travel for Trade Shows, Store Visits and Competition Shopping

Additional Information
At Indigo, we are committed to our communities, our customers, and each other; together we can make a positive impact. We know that fostering diversity and inclusion brings out your full potential and creates a joyful and welcoming environment for everyone. We are driven to be an equitable employer, which highly values your diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that you, in all your uniqueness, belong at Indigo. We welcome all applicants and encourage applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, a person of colour, LGBTQ2+ and people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request to individuals who self-identify as having a disability or special need. Please contact Human Resources at 1 (888) 881-3177 (toll free) or Support-HR@indigo.ca if you require an accommodation at any time during the recruitment process. WELCOME HOME