Category Manager

Company: Music & Arts
Location: Germantown
Posted on: July 2, 2025

Job Description:

Category managers are responsible to set, communicate, execute, manage, and support a set of Customer-focused strategies for their category to deliver growth in revenue, margin, inventory productivity, and Customer engagement. They drive omnichannel Customer engagement and loyalty through ensuing the right product, information, and content is at the right place and merchandised in a way that drives the Customer decision path, at the right everyday and promotional prices, and the right time. The Music & Arts Category managers serve our K-12 students, their parents, music, band, and orchestra educational leaders, more advanced band and orchestral musicians, our Retail Store teams, and our Education Representatives. Category Managers own the relationship with the Vendors and ensure the brand is getting the best costs, trade spend, inventory allocation, and service to meet our goals, while also being ahead of our competitors on innovation, new items, access to artists and other digital, content, training and human assets from the vendor. They work closely with the Planning and Allocation, Marketing, Finance, eCommerce, Supply Chain, Customer Care, Training and other teams to bring the category strategies to life. The team also works closely with their counterparts at The Guitar Center. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The reason this job exists is to perform these functions. They are performed regularly, seriously impacting other roles and the Customer. To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to execute each of these functions satisfactorily. Other duties, assignments and specific projects may be assigned at the discretion of leadership. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Know the Customer Spend time with the appropriate Customer facing teams stay current and deeply understand the category’s Customers, build powerful category insights that inform the category’s strategy and tactics Work with the appropriate data teams to mine data to build insights through the understanding of Customer segmentation and behavior Know the business Stay current on and communicate internally industry, vendor, and competitive news and trends. This will include event, trade show, vendor training, competitive shopping, vendor facility tour participation Cultivate competitive intelligence for the category and ensure we are advantaged in our assortments, pricing, positioning, content, and Customer engagement Build Category Plans Define, communicate, manage, and execute the category role, definition, and strategic and tactical category plans. Ensure that the category strategies are in line with the Customer and company’s goals Achieve the financial targets Help plan and achieve the category’s revenue, margin rate and dollars, open to buy, inventory productivity, markdown and promotional plans across the appropriate eCommerce properties, Retail stores, and School Services and Special Order teams Manage the assortments Manage the Inventory Enhance Customer engagement Own the vendor relationship Build visual and digital navigational merchandising standards Drive item data accuracy Support our internal Customers other key and unique business priorities About Music & Arts Music & Arts embodies the world of creativity and music by encouraging our teammates to find their own individual sound. We strive to create lifelong musicians and make a difference in the world by enabling musicians and non-musicians alike to experience the almost indescribable happiness that comes from playing an instrument. We believe in putting our customers first, engaging with respect and integrity and fulfilling our mission with passion. The first Music & Arts was located in a small house in Bethesda, MD and run by founder Benjamin O'Brien. When Music & Arts opened its doors in 1952, we offered printed music, music lessons, dance lessons, and art supplies. Ben decided shortly after opening his business that he wanted to focus on music to better serve his customers a decision that remains intact to this day. Since the 1990's, Music & Arts has expanded nationwide through organic growth and a series of acquisitions and mergers with other music dealers. In 2005, Music & Arts joined forces with American Music to become the largest band and orchestra instrument retailer in the United States. Based in Frederick, MD, Music & Arts is now part of the Guitar Center enterprise and comprises 225 retail stores, 200 educational representatives, and 250 affiliate locations. To join our band, you'll need the following experience: 5-10 years of relevant work experience (in addition to degree or years of previous experience), preferably in a Musical Instrument environment Music background a plus Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel (V-lookups, formulas, filtering, sorting, formatting) Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook) Intermediate understanding of marketing and promotions functions Why Guitar Center? Here's just some of the rewards: For our employees who are musicians we offer the unique opportunity of gig leavetake time off to share your music with the world and return to your job after your tour! Guitar Center offers robust benefits and perks, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K plus company match, mental health support, paid sick/holiday/vacation time, employee discount program, and tuition reimbursement options. Pay Rate: $85,000 - $95,000/yr depending on background and experience. This position is eligible to participate in the Music & Arts Company bonus program based on Company performance. The job posting is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on actual experience, education, and other factors. The pay range(s) listed are provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations. With a career at Guitar Center, you become part of the world's largest multichannel musical instrument retailer. Whether at our Stores, Contact Centers, Distribution Centers, or Support Center, Guitar Center employees have a common goal: to help people find their sound and fill the world with more music. Love this gig and want to apply? Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job?related requirements. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request reasonable accommodation by sending an email to recruiting@guitarcenter.com

Keywords: Music & Arts, Washington DC , Category Manager, Retail - All , Germantown, DC