Category Manager - Selection Strategy for Amazon Now

Overview

Amazon Now is looking for a detail-oriented and execution-driven Selection Operations Manager to spearhead the selection strategy and operational execution. This position requires strong analytical capabilities, stakeholder collaboration, and program management to maintain an optimal product assortment for customers across multiple categories and locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the selection strategy, defining stock assortment, stocking locations, and inventory levels for both darkstores and superstores.
• Create frameworks at category and city levels that integrate customer demand insights, competitor benchmarking, and physical store constraints.
• Establish guardrails for product assortment including breadth, brand diversity, and price range coverage.
• Regularly refine selection criteria based on data-driven performance metrics and evolving market dynamics.
• Collaborate with category managers, inventory, operations teams, and leadership to align strategies and gain consensus.
• Conduct structured review sessions to gather stakeholder feedback, resolve disputes, and enhance selection logic.
• Document and disseminate clear decision-making frameworks for stakeholder transparency.
• Work with sellers, brands, and category teams to curate optimal selections per category and identify gaps versus competitors using benchmarking and customer trends.
• Lead onboarding processes for priority brands and products jointly with seller engagement teams.
• Design systematic procedures for adding new product introductions (NPIs) with defined evaluation and deployment timelines.
• Implement mechanisms to identify and delist underperforming products based on established thresholds.
• Create automated dashboards to monitor selection health indicators such as coverage, productivity, and gaps.
• Manage seasonal and event-driven selection planning through scalable playbooks, ensuring timely readiness and post-season evaluation.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to guarantee availability of event-specific inventory.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, or related disciplines.
• Strong experience with data analysis tools including Excel, SQL, and business intelligence platforms.
• Proven success in category management, selection planning, merchandising, or related operational roles.
• Demonstrated ability in building and expanding operational processes.
• Experience managing multiple stakeholders and securing alignment.
• Minimum 3 years of Excel experience and 5 years in retail, operations, product or program management, consulting, or similar fields involving negotiations and result delivery.
• Experience with financial analysis and P&L responsibility.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree such as MBA.
• Background in e-commerce, quick commerce, or retail assortment/selection planning.
• Programming skills in Python or R.
• Experience managing automated or rule-based program management systems.
• Strong skills in vendor negotiations, pricing strategies, inventory management, and product development.
• Expertise in managing large datasets to drive operational excellence.

Leadership & Competencies

• Ownership mindset to deliver outcomes end-to-end.
• Analytical and problem-solving prowess.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influence capabilities.
• Bias towards action with a focus on process excellence.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A customer-centric outlook.

Additional Information

Amazon values an inclusive culture empowering employees to produce the best results for customers. Support and accommodations are available for candidates with disabilities during the recruitment and onboarding process.