Handler Announces NAPA Associate Category Manager – Commodities Search

ATLANTA, GA. – July 30, 2026

We are pleased to announce Handler’s launch of a search for NAPA to hire an Associate Category Manager-Commodities.  This key role will be based at headquarters in Atlanta, GA.

The Associate Category Manager serves as the operational and analytical partner to the Category Manager, supporting the profitable growth and execution of one of NAPA’s largest and most strategically important merchandising categories. This role helps drive sales, profitability, pricing strategy, supplier performance, and operational excellence while balancing financial, customer, and business objectives. Working cross-functionally with Merchandising, Pricing, Marketing, Supply Chain, Inventory Planning, Finance, Digital Commerce, and supplier partners, this individual plays a critical role in executing category initiatives, leading projects, and ensuring seamless day-to-day category operations.

The ideal candidate will have 2–4 years of Category Management, Merchandising, Assortment Planning, or Retail experience within a fast-paced retail, distribution, or consumer products environment. We seek candidates with strong commercial acumen, exceptional analytical capability, and the ability to quickly become the operational and analytical partner to the Category Manager. Success in this role requires someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, independently manages projects, prioritizes competing initiatives, and consistently delivers exceptional execution.

Specific functions and responsibilities of the position include:

  • Demonstrated success in an Associate Category Manager, Merchandising, Category Analyst, Assortment Planning, Buyer, or similar commercial role supporting complex product categories
  • Strong financial acumen with a solid understanding of retail math, pricing, gross margin, profitability, inventory metrics, promotional performance, and category analytics
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency, including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, large datasets, financial reporting, and analytical modeling
  • Proven ability to analyze complex business data, identify trends, and translate insights into sound commercial recommendations
  • Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with suppliers and cross-functional business partners while supporting supplier programs, promotional initiatives, new product introductions, and category execution
  • Proven ability to influence and collaborate across cross-functional teams while successfully managing multiple concurrent projects and competing priorities
  • Excellent organizational, administrative, and time-management skills with exceptional attention to detail
  • Experience supporting complex, multi-SKU product categories within retail, distribution, merchandising, assortment planning, or supply chain environments preferred

    Education Requirement — Bachelor’s degree required

Next steps:

  1. To learn more about this exciting role, listen to our audio
  2. Qualified and interested, or to refer a colleague, contact our Search Consultant, Kathleen Leard

We look forward to hearing from you.