Product Category Manager

Job Title:

Product Category Manager

Department:
Product Marketing, Strategy & Innovation

Position

Reports to:

Director of Product Development

Employment: W2, Full-Time, Salary, Exempt

Location:

Hybrid. St. Augustine, FL Distribution Center will be relocating to Palm Coast, FL. Non-local residents must be willing to travel to be considered.

Are you the best at what you do and want to love where you work? Are you a true flavor enthusiast with a zest for adventure? Want to work with a TEA-m full of sugary sweet, never salty (unless we sell it) band of characters who take their work seriously but never themselves? If this sounds like you and you too love corny puns, you may be the key ingredient we’re missing.

See what we did there? Apply now, and let your culinary imagination run wild with us!

The Spice & Tea Exchange® is looking for energetic people who have a passion for life and food. Our mission is creating and sharing the experience of a more flavorful life, and our employees strive to make that happen every day for our customers, our franchisees and each other. The employee experience at The Spice & Tea Exchange is unique and rewarding, and if you have this same passion for flavor, we have a seat for you at our table.

The Category Manager is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of assigned product categories, from strategic planning and market analysis to product development, pricing, and performance optimization. This role will serve as the category expert, driving growth through data-driven insights, trend forecasting, and cross-functional collaboration with Supply Chain, Marketing, and Operations.

The ideal candidate is passionate about product storytelling, skilled in balancing creativity with analytics, and capable of translating guest and franchise feedback into actionable category strategies that align with brand goals.

• Category Strategy & Planning: Develop and execute category strategies that support the brand’s overall product vision, financial goals, and long‑term growth. Conduct competitive analysis, consumer trend research, and market benchmarking to inform category positioning. Identify assortment gaps, innovation opportunities, and product lifecycle transitions (e.g., core, LTO, seasonal, and Sell‑Thru items).
• Product Lifecycle Management: Lead the end-to-end management of products within assigned categories from concept to commercialization and retirement. Solidify Vendor relationships... Partner with Supply Chain, and Creative... Monitor sell‑through, margin performance, and inventory levels to optimize assortment and profitability. Create data-driven reports... driving data driven decision for product sunsets and Core line up additions.
• Cross‑Functional
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Collaborate with Marketing and Creative teams to develop campaign support, storytelling, and in-store merchandising strategies. Partner with Supply Chain on sourcing, vendor communication, and demand planning. Work with Operations and Training to ensure category success in retail execution and staff education.
• Financial & Analytical Management: Own category P&L performance including revenue, COGS, and margin optimization. Analyze sales trends, forecast demand, and recommend adjustments to meet or exceed budgeted goals. Present quarterly category reviews and annual business plans to leadership.
• Innovation & Trend Leadership: Stay current on industry trends, seasonal flavor profiles, packaging innovations, and guest experience opportunities. Evaluate and recommend new product opportunities, vendor partnerships, and strategic collaborations.

• A bachelor’s degree in marketing, merchandising, or related discipline, MBA preferred.
• 5+ years of category management, product merchandising, or brand management experience, CPG or specialty retail preferred.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, Power BI, or similar tools.
• Exceptional project management and communication skills with ability to influence cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated success in managing product life cycles and driving category profitability.
• Passion for culinary, beverage, or…