Company Summary
Zoro.com is a leading eCommerce platform offering nearly 15 million tools, parts and supplies for our business customers. Launched in 2011, we brought a B2C-like experience to the B2B industry, and continue to be at the forefront of digital innovation at the intersection of technology and distribution. We have rapidly grown to over $1 billion in annual revenue and we’re just getting started!
Primary Function:
Category Manager’s success will be defined by unlocking the full potential for the categories they are responsible for. This revolves around delivering on the objectives and key results that are defined by Zoro. Those activities are currently driving product line expansion, improving customer repeat rates and analyzing strategic areas of growth through category reviews. In order to be successful with these OKRs, a category manager will need to partner with key existing suppliers while facilitating development with new suppliers. We expect our Category Managers to be thought leaders, able to think big and create a scalable vision, and be able to solve problems unique to their categories to be successful. The Category Manager is responsible for suppliers and categories but in addition you will be hands-on in general management of your lines and you’ll touch many areas within Zoro. As such, you’ll need strong internal influence skills to build and maintain relationships and understand many of the inner workings of our business. Being an e-commerce company we have vast amounts of data that you’ll need to be able to digest and turn into actionable plans to manage your business. A successful candidate will be able to be an effective communicator, highly influential, have the ability to think big, bias for action, strong business acumen and lead with curiosity.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Understand vertical market segments, what it takes to be successful and evaluate if/how Zoro is able to participate in the segment.
- Demonstrate solid data analytics skills to be able to mine data, understand the drivers of your business, and create appropriate strategies.
- Understand customer needs and be an advocate for them to make sure their experience is excellent when they buy from Zoro.
- Understand how and why customers use certain products including various technologies and brand differences.
- Prospect, contact, and sell the Zoro model to new suppliers to encourage them to come on board.
- Negotiate contracts with suppliers to achieve a fast launch to market with the highest level of success while managing within operational capabilities and profitability.
- Manage supplier relationships and be able to operationalize suppliers on our platform and drive sales and profitability.
- Drive your business with a high sense of urgency.
- Learn and manage all the sales levers within Zoro to engage the right ones at the right time to achieve the growth we need to achieve.
- Demonstrate ability to repeatedly take on new categories, find opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to Zoro success.
- Demonstrate Zoro Values and contribute to the positive development of the culture within our team.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required. MBA or equivalent preferred
- 7-10 years of experience in a related field is required
- Experience in MRO distribution, online marketplaces, wholesale, and E-Commerce preferred
- Expertise in negotiating contracts and establishing new supplier relationships required
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile environment
- Strong financial acumen and ability to communicate complex deal terms in a clear and compelling manner
- Superior written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Computer skills include building presentations, analyzing data, communicating information, and internet search techniques
Total Rewards
Zoro’s total compensation plan includes our Zoro Incentive Plan (ZIP) that is designed to foster and reward our team members for strong performance. Total compensation will be highly competitive.
In addition to competitive compensation, Zoro offers comprehensive benefits and perks including:
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment
- Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents. We also support growing your family through access to adoption assistance program
- 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist and Wellhub portal membership to support your mental and emotional wellbeing
- At least 18 paid time off days annually for full-time employees and 6 company holidays per year
- 6% company contribution to a 401K Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required
- Tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and access to financial counseling, education, and tools
- Charitable Gift Program - match gift to an eligible educational, cultural, community health, and human service organizations
- Employee discounts and admission to various civic and cultural institutions around Chicago
- Zoro office perks including coffee bar, beer on tap, unlimited snacks, access to the onsite gym, and incredible city skyline views
For additional information and details regarding our benefits and our parent company, W. W. Grainger, please click on the link here.
Our Culture
Zoro was founded in 2011 with a simple idea: make it easy for businesses to get the tools, parts, and supplies they need to keep things running. We've grown by staying curious, moving quickly, and solving everyday challenges in smart, practical ways. Backed by W.W. Grainger and inspired by our endless assortment business model, we’re on a clear path toward our next big milestone: $2 billion in revenue—and beyond.
At Zoro, we don’t just follow a playbook—we help build it. You’ll get to work on real problems with a supportive team that shares ideas freely, learns from each other, and celebrates wins together. Our culture is grounded in values that guide how we show up every day: Winning & Learning Together, Being Customer Obsessed, Being Transparent, and Taking Ownership. We don’t have all the answers, but we’re always asking good questions.
Zoro’s culture has been recognized by Fortune, Best Places to Work, and Built In Chicago—but the recognition we care about most comes from our team members, who make this place what it is.
We also know that flexibility matters. Our hybrid work model gives you space to focus and the flexibility to live your life — asking team members to be onsite at least two days a week. Our Chicago HQ (right above Ogilvie Transportation Center in the Accenture Tower) is always open and ready for connection, collaboration, or just a good cup of coffee.
At Zoro, we’re growing fast toward big aspirations — and we’re continuously excited about the new challenges we get to solve together.
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are also committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment. Should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview, or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.
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