Manager, Cost Management and Assortment Planning

Manager, Cost Management and Assortment Planning

At RONA, our employees let their passion blossom every day. Our teams are driven by the desire to help people bring their projects to life and are committed to making a difference in the communities we serve.

We operate or service corporate and affiliated dealer stores. With a distinctive product and service offering and complementary store formats ranging from neighbourhood hardware stores to big box stores, our RONA+, RONA and Dick’s Lumber banners are well equipped to help meet the needs of all DIYers and contractors.

You've got the talent? We've got the tools! Here, your work and ideas will contribute to building a flourishing organization. Your voice will always be heard and valued. You'll find career opportunities that live up to your ambitions and be able to further develop your unique set of skills.

So, if you’re looking to do what you love, we could be a perfect match.

RONA is committed to encouraging diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of race, colour, religion, sexual orientation, gender, nationality, age, disability, or any other protected status.

RONA is seeking a Manager, Cost Management and Assortment Planning with strong analytical capabilities, sound business acumen, and the ability to translate complex data into actionable recommendations. Reporting to the Director, Supplier Negotiation and Strategy, this individual will be responsible for leading the Cost Management and Assortment Planning teams to support the Merchandising and Negotiation teams in their strategic decision-making.

The incumbent will contribute to the development of negotiation and assortment strategies by providing cost analyses, category diagnostics, market insights, and recommendations aimed at protecting profitability, optimizing product offerings, and maximizing value for both the business and its customers.

This role will play a central part in category review (Line Review) processes, ensuring assortment decisions are supported by a thorough understanding of category performance, customer needs, competitive dynamics, and growth opportunities. Close collaboration with cross-functional teams will be essential to ensure alignment between commercial, assortment, and negotiation strategies as markets, costs, and consumer expectations evolve.

• Lead supplier cost analysis activities to identify risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Oversee cost and profitability analyses performed by the team to support merchandising and negotiation strategies.
• Interpret market trends, commodity indexes, and economic factors impacting product costs.
• Develop recommendations to mitigate cost fluctuations and improve profitability.

• Lead the Assortment Planning team responsible for evaluating and optimizing category assortments.
• Establish priorities, methodologies, tools, and analytical standards for the assortment planning function.
• Oversee category diagnostics to evaluate current assortment performance and identify growth, optimization, and rationalization opportunities.
• Support Line Review processes by providing recommendations on product additions, removals, and assortment adjustments.
• Guide analyses related to category performance, SKU productivity, competitive positioning, customer needs, and customer purchase decision trees.
• Act as a strategic partner to Category Managers by supporting assortment decisions before, during, and after category reviews.
• Provide ongoing analytical support to adjust assortment strategies based on business needs, market dynamics, and category performance.
• Drive continuous improvement of assortment planning tools, methodologies, and performance metrics.

• Serve as a business partner to Merchandising and Negotiation teams.
• Support the development of negotiation strategies through data-driven analyses, scenarios, and recommendations.
• Proactively identify and communicate renegotiation opportunities and value-creation levers.
• Ensure alignment between cost analyses, assortment strategies, commercial objectives, and supplier strategies.
• Promote integrated decision-making that balances profitability, competitiveness, and customer experience.

• Oversee the development and enhancement of tools, analytical models, and dashboards used by both teams.
• Ensure the integrity, quality, and…