We are seeking an experienced Sr. Category Manager to own merchandising efforts for the Snacks category at Thrive Market. This role will be responsible for driving growth in revenue and margin for the category through product assortment and selection, vendor relationship management, pricing, promotion, site merchandising, and a keen understanding of trends. A key component of this position is having a fundamental understanding of the brands, products, and trends driving the Salty Snacks space while upholding our high standards for quality products & ingredients. We maintain a highly curated assortment compared to many of our online competitors. Our merchandising team is lean, and as a business, we are growing quickly, which means priorities change constantly. We’re looking for a nimble, accomplished category management professional who is equally comfortable designing processes, setting clear strategy, and working cross-functionally to achieve our growth goals.
The role typically requires 15-20% travel to trade shows and vendor meetings when possible.
- Grow and maintain the Snacks category to meet expansion goals, including revenue, margin, and other KPIs, while balancing our ingredient/quality standards.
- Drive category strategy and innovation, including a best-in-class shopping experience, by staying ahead of category trends and customer needs and partnering with relevant internal teams.
- Identify, seek out, and cultivate strong vendor relationships with large volume vendors. Negotiate the best pricing and margin terms, promotional support, maintain consistent and clear communication, and represent Thrive Market’s brand and values in every interaction.
- Track, measure, and analyze data to report KPIs and metrics. Identify successes/challenges within category performance, act on areas for improvement, and inform new brand/product opportunities.
- Negotiate with partners to secure competitive everyday value pricing for our members, new item free-fill, marketing & promotional budgets, rebate growth incentives, delivery, and payment terms.
- Drive the new product/brand onboarding process to ensure timely market addition.
- Collaborate closely with the Merchandising Marketing team to develop and execute annual promotional strategies for brands and categories.
- Partner with the Procurement team on inventory forecasts, new item projections, vendor fulfillment rates, expiry risks, and exit strategies for slow-moving inventory.
- Be curious, experimental, and rigorous in your research to ensure our assortment at Thrive Market is on-trend and setting the bar for new products. Know the competitive landscape inside-out.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams and be a positive leader both within the merchandising team and the company as a whole.
- 5+ years of experience in a buying or category management role.
- E-commerce experience highly preferred.
- Strong negotiation and vendor relationship skills.
- Deep knowledge of consumer trends and behavior, as well as ingredients, preferably in the Salty Snacks space.
- Proven track record of over-delivering on KPIs and financial plans.
- Fluency in technical and tactical merchandising: Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Sheets expertise is critical.
- Willingness to roll up your sleeves and dive into the day-to-day of category management and item launches.
- Exemplary communication skills: you can present, write clear/concise emails, and understand how best to communicate with different teams and people.
- Self-directing and self-correcting: you’re a natural problem solver skilled at prioritization.
- Flexibility and ability to adapt quickly to an ever-evolving environment.
- Over-the-top excitement about making healthy, affordable products available to every American.
- Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision, life and disability)
- Competitive salary (DOE) + equity
- 401k plan
- 9 Observed Holidays
- Flexible Paid Time Off
- Subsidized ClassPass Membership with access to fitness classes and wellness and beauty experiences
- Ability to work in our beautiful office in Playa Vista
- Free Thrive Market membership with exclusive employee discount
- Coverage for Life Coaching & Therapy Sessions on our holistic mental health and well-being platform
- Compensation Description - The base salary range for this position is $110,000 - $130,000/Per Year.
- Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on several factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and geographic location.
- Total Compensation includes Base Salary, Stock Options, Health and Wellness Benefits, Flexible PTO, and more!
Top Skills
Similar Jobs at Thrive Market
What you need to know about the Charlotte Tech Scene
Key Facts About Charlotte Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 90,859; 6.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Lowe’s, Bank of America, TIAA, Microsoft, Honeywell
- Key Industries: Fintech, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, e-commerce
- Funding Landscape: $3.1 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (CED)
- Notable Investors: Microsoft, Google, Falfurrias Management Partners, RevTech Labs Foundation
- Research Centers and Universities: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Northeastern University, North Carolina Research Campus

