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How to hire an associate category manager

Associate category manager hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring associate category managers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire an associate category manager is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new associate category manager to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an associate category manager, step by step

To hire an associate category manager, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire an associate category manager:

Here's a step-by-step associate category manager hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an associate category manager job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new associate category manager
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring an associate category manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an associate category manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an associate category manager that fits the bill.

    The following list breaks down different types of associate category managers and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Associate Category ManagerDescriptionHourly rate
    Associate Category ManagerAdvertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services. They work with art directors, sales agents, and financial staff members.$27-47
    Manager, StrategyA strategy manager is a professional who reviews a company's objectives for growth and works with executives to formulate actionable plans to achieve these objectives. To make comprehensive recommendations, strategy managers must conduct data analysis of the organization as well as the overall industry... Show more$37-73
    Department Sales ManagerThe department sales manager is a person in charge of working with a company's marketing, advertising, and sales department. The service's sales manager ensures that the company receives better marketing... Show more$19-37
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Data Analysis
    • Category Strategies
    • Category Performance
    • Vendor Relations
    • PET
    • RFI
    • Strategic Sourcing
    • Track Performance
    • Product Assortment
    • Market Research
    • ROI
    • Growth Objectives
    • POS
    • Category Growth
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage relationships with primary suppliers including monitoring and purchasing commodities, forecasting, marketing initiatives and quality control.
    • Conduct RFP, analyze data, recommend consolidation of items.
    • Create and analyze RFP's to determine cost structure and desk profitability.
    • Coordinate and execute all online promotions with e-commerce partners.
    • Evaluate POS information, recommending and implementing strategies to improve product performance.
    • Implement unique e-commerce and in-store merchandising strategies while maintaining brand integrity for multiple client accounts.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your associate category manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An associate category manager salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, associate category managers' average salary in kansas is 35% less than in washington.
    • Seniority. Entry-level associate category managers earn 41% less than senior-level associate category managers.
    • Certifications. An associate category manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an associate category manager's salary.

    Average associate category manager salary

    $76,432yearly

    $36.75 hourly rate

    Entry-level associate category manager salary
    $58,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 23, 2025
  4. Writing an associate category manager job description

    An associate category manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an associate category manager job description:

    Associate category manager job description example


    At Delaware North, we care about our associates. We are committed to invest in our people's personal and professional journeys, without you, there is no us. These are just some of the benefits we offer: health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with company match, performance bonuses, paid vacation days and holidays, and generous friends-and-family discounts at many of our hotels and resorts. Click here to learn more.

    Responsibilities
    • Work with category stakeholders and strategic sourcing team to develop new preferred programs that leverage spend, consolidate suppliers, and rationalize SKUs, with the goal of delivering savings and increased value to Delaware North.
    • Negotiate terms and conditions that are consistent with company goals, standards, and ethics, while delivering the best overall value to the operating locations.
    • Liaise between internal stakeholders and suppliers to ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and contract terms.
    • Adhere to ethical procurement practices, including compliance with corporate and departmental policies and procedures as well as federal, state, and local regulations.
    • Develop, evaluate, and prioritize ideas on new ways to grow the business through partnerships and cooperative deals that drive revenue and improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.
    • Provide detailed analysis of category performance including growth objectives, savings opportunities, and trends.
    • Maintain regular reports to track performance and identify the impact of variables on category performance against established metrics.
    Qualifications
    • Three years of applicable professional experience.
    • Knowledge and experience in IT categories (HW, SW, IT Service).
    • Knowledge and experience in working with IT agreements.
    • Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, inventory analysis skills, and ability to communicate and interact effectively with managers, vendors and others.
    • Ability to solve problems quickly, multi-task in a fast-paced environment, manage time and meet deadlines, and work independently as well as part of a team.
    • Experienced in Microsoft Office Suite with emphasis on Excel.
    • Bachelors degree preferred.
    Who We Are

    At Delaware North, you'll love where you work, who you work with, and how your day unfolds. Whether it's in sporting venues, casinos, airports, national parks, iconic hotels, or premier restaurants, there's no telling where your career can ultimately take you. We empower you to do great work in a company with 100 years of success, stability and growth. If you have drive and enjoy the thrill of making things happen - share our vision and grow with us.

    Delaware North Companies, Incorporated and its subsidiaries consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. Delaware North is an equal opportunity employer.

  5. Post your job

    To find associate category managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any associate category managers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level associate category managers with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your associate category manager job on Zippia to find and recruit associate category manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit associate category managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new associate category manager

    Once you've decided on a perfect associate category manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new associate category manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an associate category manager?

Recruiting associate category managers involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $76,432 per year for an associate category manager, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for associate category managers in the US typically range between $27 and $47 an hour.

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