Category Manager

Category Manager 

ZAGENO is seeking a Category Manager to join our Supplier Partnerships team in the United States.  

ZAGENO provides the largest online marketplace for life science lab supplies, acting as a comprehensive hub for scientists, lab managers, and procurement leaders. Our platform streamlines the procurement process, enabling users to compare products, identify alternatives, monitor deliveries, and communicate order statuses in real-time.  This efficiency accelerates innovation by freeing up valuable time. Through advanced AI, ZAGENO bolsters supply chain resilience and delivers a superior customer experience. Our seamless integration with existing systems boosts productivity, making the online purchase of research materials convenient, efficient, and reliable. We are dedicated to innovation, excellence, and cultivating a supportive and dynamic work environment.

Position Description

Responsible for the development and execution of strategies focused on revenue and margin growth for assigned suppliers. The ideal candidate has experience working with life science R&D distributors and/or manufacturers. The Category Manager will be expected to clearly communicate strategies within the organization with intent of gaining commercial and legal agreement from internal stakeholders. Collaboration with Marketing, Merchandising, Product, and Operations teams is critical to success. Develops tactical plans to execute on strategy and manages sales opportunities to deliver intended results. The Category Manager will prospect, pitch and close strategic partnerships with target suppliers. Within the sales process, this person will conduct negotiations with suppliers to form contract terms and conditions that align to long-term supplier strategy. In addition to sales efforts for unsigned suppliers, the Category Manager will build and leverage relationships to better position ZAGENO for growth. The Category Manager will also perform evaluations of supplier performance, product mix, and market growth opportunities to maximize revenue for ZAGENO.

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for supplier contracting process (Develop Requirements, Determine Strategies, Negotiations, Implementation, Managing ROI)
• Work closely with Catalog, Operations, Legal, Customer Support and Finance to understand needs and challenges
• Develop and implement account and territory plans
• Own and achieve sales targets of net new suppliers, meeting our Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and revenue requirements
• Build a robust sales pipeline with assigned suppliers
• Learn and understand how to successfully position ZAGENO’s marketplace offering and solution
• Successfully engage existing and prospective suppliers to drive sales opportunities forward to closure
• Prepare and deliver demonstrations that showcase the value of the ZAGENO solution to prospective suppliers (senior leaders, sales and channel executives)
• Strategically orchestrate resources and collaborate both internally and externally throughout the sales process
  

Minimum Requirements:

• 3+ years experience in areas such as life science or healthcare category management, distribution sales, inside sales, or manufacturer sales

Critical Skills

• Strong industry knowledge pertaining to supplier and distributor partnerships
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Ability to manage a sales funnel via a CRM system
• Persistence, strong work ethic and a self-driven desire to succeed
• Ability to leverage data and analytics to support a sales strategy
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office (Excel- Pivots, VLOOKUP’s and PowerPoint)

Additional Knowledge & Skills

• Life Science R&D industry experience preferred
• Ability to drive a sales opportunity from prospecting to close
• Demonstrated analytical ability and financial acumen
• Professional poise and confidence while communicating with decision-makers
• Manage multiple sales opportunities requiring frequent communication, organization, time management, and problem solving
• Ability to translate strategic vision into tactical plans and influence adoption of prescribed actions
• Strategic aptitude
• Excellent interpersonal skills and written/verbal skills
• Strong presentation abilities both in-person and virtually
• A deep interest in joining a high-growth technology startup; an understanding of the drivers and challenges of scaling in the tech industry
• You take a consultative approach with prospective suppliers
• You value feedback and thrive on constant improvement and learning

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in science, business, marketing, or related field, or equivalent experience

Additional Requirements 

• Local to the Boston area is preferred, with the ability to work from our Boston office on a hybrid basis. Please note that relocation support is not available for this role
• Travel 0% - 25%

Our Benefits

• Competitive salary, benefits, flexible PTO, and professional growth opportunities.
• Working for a mission-driven business with a meaningful challenge making a positive impact on the scientific community.
  

Hybrid Boston (preferred), open to Remote