Category Manager

Excellent career opportunity to join one of the finest Fortune 200 companies in the United States! You will also enjoy a wide array of career development programs including the company supported Six Sigma Black Belt training in category management.

NOTE:

This person must live in Atlanta or be open to relocating on their own - No relocation assistance currently provided.

NAPA Auto Parts is a leading U.S. automotive aftermarket distributor and wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC), a $23.5B global distribution leader. With 20,000+ employees, NAPA distributes more than 800,000 automotive replacement parts, accessories, and service items to retail and commercial customers nationwide. As GPC prepares to separate its Automotive and Industrial businesses into independent public companies by 2027, NAPA will become the standalone Automotive platform—creating greater focus, agility, and investment to accelerate growth and innovation across the automotive aftermarket.

This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of one of NAPA’s most complex and specialized businesses—a $175M Paint portfolio encompassing automotive paint and toners, mixing systems, abrasives, spray guns, accessories, and related products. The Category Manager will have significant opportunity to bring fresh perspective to the business, strengthen its strategic direction, and identify investments and initiatives that drive renewed growth and performance.

Operating across a complex value chain from supplier to distribution center, store, and ultimately the customer, this individual will partner closely with senior leadership, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to shape category strategy and translate it into action. The role offers meaningful visibility and the opportunity to make a measurable impact on an important business during a pivotal period of transformation at NAPA.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, commercially minded merchant who can both shape the vision and drive execution. They bring strong business judgment, fresh thinking, and the ability to influence senior leadership, navigate complex supplier relationships, and turn strategy into measurable results. The strongest candidate may be either an accomplished merchant/category leader with highly transferable commercial skills or a professional with meaningful paint/coatings expertise and the business acumen and leadership potential to succeed within NAPA’s Category Management organization.

• Own the strategy, performance, and continued development of NAPA’sPaint portfolio, including paint and toners, mixing systems, abrasives, spray guns, accessories, and related products
• Develop and execute category strategies that drive sales, profitability, assortment effectiveness, market competitiveness, and long-term growth
• Translate strategic ideas into actionable plans, establishing clear priorities and driving initiatives through implementation and measurable results
• Partner with senior leadership to identify business opportunities and investment needs, develop compelling recommendations, and influence support for strategic category initiatives
• Manage complex supplier relationships, including NAPA’s major paint and coatings partners, effectively navigating negotiations and challenging commercial discussions while maintaining productive long-term partnerships
• Evaluate the entire category value chain—from supplier and distribution center…