Handler Announces NAPA Category Manager – Paint Search

ATLANTA, GA. – August 24, 2026

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

The Category Manager owns the strategic category direction focused on enhancing NAPA’s sales, profit, inventory turns, and market position within the industry while upholding NAPA’s high standards of ethics and integrity as a representative of the company.

The ideal candidate will have 3+ years of Category Management experience with demonstrated success owning categories from strategy through execution. This individual should possess a true merchant mindset with a passion for identifying new market opportunities and have experience building programs—not simply
maintaining existing business.

Specific functions and responsibilities of the position include:

  • Meaningful experience in Category Management, Merchandising, Product Management, Buying, Commercial
  • Management, or a related consumer/retail business function, with demonstrated ownership of business or
  • category performance
  • Proven success managing significant supplier/vendor relationships, including the ability to navigate difficult
  • conversations, negotiations, and complex commercial partnerships
  • Strong commercial and strategic acumen with the ability to evaluate complex business opportunities, develop
  • recommendations, and translate strategy into successful execution
  • Demonstrated results orientation with a track record of moving initiatives forward, overcoming obstacles, and
  • driving measurable business outcomes
  • Experience managing complex assortments, supply chains, distribution environments, and/or multi-channel retail
  • businesses highly valued
  • Strong executive communication and influencing skills with the confidence to present ideas, build compelling
  • business cases, and gain alignment from senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders
  • Automotive paint, coatings, or related industry experience strongly valued, though not mandatory for a strong
  • merchant
  • Prior people-leadership experience preferred; high-potential candidates ready to lead will also be considered

    Education Requirement — Bachelor’s degree required with a concentration in Business

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.