Associate Category Manager

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Associate Category Manager to support the development and execution of the merchandising strategy for Really Good Stuff's Curriculum/STEM category. This role plays a key part in driving revenue and margin goals through effective category management, merchandising presentations, promotional planning, and inventory forecasting.

The Associate Category Manager will help bring the merchandising vision to life across ReallyGoodStuff.com, Amazon marketplaces, and print channels, partnering cross-functionally to ensure strong execution, optimized assortments, and compelling customer experiences.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Execution

• Support the development and execution of category strategies for assortment, pricing, promotions, and visual merchandising across eCommerce, retail, and marketplace channels.
• Assist in driving customer engagement and loyalty while helping attract new target customers through digital and print channels.

Competitive Analysis & Product Innovation

• Maintain competitive intelligence and contribute actionable insights and recommendations.
• Support the onboarding of new and innovative products, assisting with testing, learnings, and ongoing refinement.

Data-Driven Merchandising

• Leverage data and analytics to inform short- and long-term merchandising decisions.
• Monitor eCommerce site performance and recommend adjustments based on inventory levels, sales trends, and optimization opportunities.

Inventory & Supply Chain Collaboration

• Partner with supply chain and replenishment teams to support inventory optimization, fulfillment performance, and financial outcomes.
• Assist in developing, testing, and refining channel-specific pricing and promotional strategies.

Visual Merchandising & Content

• Support execution and optimization of visual merchandising and product content strategies.
• Identify opportunities to improve site conversion using performance metrics, industry best practices, and business goals.

Vendor & SKU Management

• Assist in managing vendor relationships to support pricing, assortment, exclusives, rebates, coop dollars, and first-to-market initiatives.
• Support SKU performance analysis, including projections, minimum order quantities, and identifying underperforming items.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with sales, marketing, product development, and operations teams to support category initiatives and customer-specific needs.
• Ensure adherence to product data accuracy, compliance labeling, packaging, and quality assurance testing standards.

Reporting

• Contribute to weekly performance reporting, highlighting key insights, risks, and recommended actions.

Experience / Requirements

• 3+ years of eCommerce experience required.
• 3+ years of experience in merchandising and category management required.
• Experience in education, curriculum, STEM, or seasonal businesses with large assortments and high SKU counts is a plus.
• Exposure to private brand management and collaboration with product development teams preferred.
• Strong understanding of eCommerce merchandising best practices and digital user experience.
• Experience with pricing and margin optimization tactics.
• Analytical, data-driven mindset; experience using AI-powered or advanced analytics tools is a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity.

Why Join Really Good Stuff

This role offers an exciting opportunity to grow within a high-impact merchandising team, helping shape the future of our Curriculum/STEM category while developing deeper category management and eCommerce expertise in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Excelligence is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion or creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship status, genetic information, military or veteran status, age, physical or mental disability, or any other protected classification.