Category Director- Sporting Goods

About Us:

Mid-States Distributing is the leading Farm, Ranch, and Home Retail Organization. Our 72+ year old company is owned by 29 independent Farm, Ranch & Home retailers ("Members") who operate approximately 700 stores across the US with combined annual sales in excess of 7.5 billion dollars. Our member/owners retail items such as agriculture parts & supplies, petroleum products, hardware & tools, pet food, lawn & garden, animal health supplies, apparel & footwear, sporting goods, and various other products for the Farm, Ranch, and Home.

We are looking for enthusiastic people who like to win! We place a tremendous amount of emphasis on creating a dynamic and positive company culture. Most of our employees will tell you that Mid-States is the best place they've ever worked. We value high-energy people with positive attitudes who believe in the concept of "serving to wow"! Our consumers are primarily rural people raising kids, pets, cows, and crops so traditional values like God, family, and patriotism are important virtues. So, if you are enthusiastic, competitive, have a great attitude, have excellent written and verbal communication skills, like to build strong relationships, like to win, and refuse to eat meat grown in a lab - Mid-States may be the place for you! If you are not, please apply with our competitors!

Position Overview

We are looking for an experienced Sporting Goods Director for this high-profile role within our organization. Our ideal candidate will have extensive experience in the Sporting Goods Category and has experience developing products, programs and go-to-market strategies and recommendations. Must have the ability to communicate clearly and create impactful selling stories.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage overall strategy for the Sporting Goods categories (Hunting, Shooting Sports, Fishing, & Camping).
• Manage the P/L for the Sporting Goods Unit.
• Manage and develop strong vendor relationships and negotiate competitive programs with suppliers.
• Identify, negotiate, and execute centralized sourcing, purchasing, and distribution opportunities thru Mid-States Warehouse.
• Drive a growing Private Brand strategy and effectively manage cross-functional execution from inception to implementation.
• Build & maintain strong relationships with Mid-States ownership, key executives, and buying teams.
• Become the go-to expert for market strategy, retail execution, and overall category knowledge.
• Continuously look for new supplier opportunities to deliver the best category offering for our members, competitive pricing and programs, and industry best Show Specials at our Mid-States tradeshows.
• Develop impactful category analysis and consumer insights using a range of data sources to impact sales.
• Manage vendor contracts to ensure timely receipt of rebates and promotional funding.

Minimum Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:

• Industry and category management experience needed.
• 10 years' experience in the Sporting Goods category and 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Willingness to work as part of a team.
• Knowledge of customer-centric retailing principles and the analytics of customer purchase behavior.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current trends in the sporting goods industry.
• Experience in sourcing, product development, and building strategic go-to-market plans.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills, including prioritizing, scheduling, and time management.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with varying deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Travel:

Some travel involved.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change ay any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to preform essential functions.

A few words from our COO:

I have had the pleasure to work for some incredible companies during my career, but Mid-States is truly the best company I have ever worked for. Lead by our dynamic CEO, Tom Mahlke, our team strives to provide a unique, exciting, fun, and fulfilling work environment for our staff. Things like drama, laziness, and entitlement have no place in Mid-States, which makes Mid-States a refreshing place to work. We offer competitive salaries, have a fantastic benefits package, and believe in rewarding those who produce. We serve a wonderful industry, and we are financially sound and growing rapidly. If you are an enthusiastic, high-energy person with a positive attitude and the skills described above, you may have just found the last job you will ever apply for! I look forward to meeting you. - Jeff Rash, COO