Associate Manager, Brand Partnerships

Role overview

GOVX is looking for an Associate Manager of Brand Partnerships who is eager to take ownership, drive growth, and help shape category performance in a fast-moving ecommerce environment. This position sits at the center of merchandising, vendor management, pricing, analytics, and cross-functional collaboration, with a strong focus on improving profitability and delivering value to customers.

In this role, you will be responsible for the end-to-end management of assigned categories, including budgeting, assortment planning, product life cycle oversight, and building productive relationships with brand partners. You will act as a champion for both GOVX and its vendors, helping ensure the right products, pricing, and promotional strategies are in place to support business goals.

The position offers broad exposure across the company, working with teams such as pricing, marketing, digital merchandising, customer care, finance, inventory, procurement, analytics, and site operations. Success in this role requires a strong ownership mindset and the ability to make informed decisions that move the business forward.

Responsibilities

• Develop deep expertise in assigned categories by tracking the competitive landscape, brand trends, and market pricing, and using those insights to improve GOVX’s offer.
• Expand business across current vendors through multiple channels, including marketing services, marketplace activity, and wholesale or dropship programs.
• Own vendor relationships and manage them to meet revenue, order, and margin objectives.
• Use partner relationships to strengthen member value and support competitive pricing across GOVX shopping experiences.
• Analyze vendor and product results to guide data-backed decisions that improve pricing, assortment, and overall performance.
• Build and execute detailed business plans and promotional strategies aimed at increasing gross margin dollars and profitability.
• Prepare annual budgets and forecasts for each managed category.
• Work with procurement on decisions related to warehouse partners and inventory held in the GOVX fulfillment center.
• Manage assortments stored in the fulfillment center and support marketing efforts that help move inventory efficiently.
• Monitor aged inventory each month and adjust pricing to prevent stale stock, with a goal of refreshing inventory roughly every 60 days.
• Maintain forecasts for brands stocked in the fulfillment center to support cash planning.
• Track inventory availability closely and coordinate with procurement to preserve strong stock positions and updated assortments.
• Identify assortment gaps in the market and collaborate with the account executive team to bring in new brands that support top-line growth and margin improvement.
• Support launches of new brands and help shape launch plans that improve adoption and category success.
• Build and maintain relationships with partners across Shop, Marketplace, and GOVXID to support category growth.
• Negotiate margin structures and commercial terms that help GOVX reach target profitability while securing strong value for members.
• Create and manage pricing and margin strategies across brands and categories.
• Ensure vendor compliance with service-level expectations such as order processing, returns, inventory handling, and cancellations.
• Work with vendors to secure strong product access, including new launches, closeout inventory, preferred pricing, gifts with purchase, and wholesale discounts.
• Own merchandising for assigned categories by improving website presentation, conversion, and product discoverability.
• Use site performance reporting to understand how products, pages, and brands influence conversion and engagement.
• Partner with analysts to secure reporting that clarifies performance trends and customer behavior.
• Define product setup standards, including tags, required attributes, imagery, and product descriptions.
• Review taxonomy and search behavior regularly to improve browseability and help customers find relevant products faster.
• Work with marketing to align promotions with performance data, sales trends, search data, and inventory availability.
• Spot promotional opportunities and negotiate supplier-led programs that improve sales, margin, and customer value.
• Collaborate across internal teams to support category goals and maintain alignment on execution.
• Meet marketing deadlines and provide actionable direction based on sales and inventory insights.
• Prepare quarterly business reviews for senior leadership.
• Study retail and online competitors to identify market opportunities and threats.
• Guide digital merchandising efforts to improve product placement, updates, promotions, discoverability, filtering, and category structure.
• Book placements for products and content modules when needed to drive traffic to important partner pages and landing pages.
• Communicate clearly and work effectively in both written and verbal formats.
• Make practical decisions in ambiguous situations by focusing on the highest-impact outcomes for GOVX.

Requirements

• At least 4 years of experience in merchandising, buying, or category management.
• At least 2 years of experience owning relationships with vendors or partners.
• Strong focus on solutions and outcomes.
• Genuine interest in the mission and a highly motivated work style.
• Strong ability to build partnerships and maintain professional relationships.
• Excellent organization and time management capabilities.
• Clear, effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced analytical, negotiation, and quantitative skills.
• Strong technical ability, especially with Microsoft Excel.
• Experience using Google Analytics or a comparable web analytics platform.
• Skilled negotiator with a consistent track record of driving value.
• Ability to manage several priorities at once and focus on what matters most for growth.
• Office-based work environment with regular use of standard business equipment.
• Role is primarily sedentary and involves problem-solving, decision-making, data interpretation, and reading/writing tasks.
• Reasonable accommodations may be available for qualified individuals with disabilities.
• Limited travel may be required.
• Employment is contingent on passing a background check and drug test before the start date.

About GOVX

GOVX was founded in 2011 to provide exclusive savings to those who serve. Its membership community includes current and former members of the military, law enforcement, firefighting, medical services, and government personnel. The company focuses on serving these communities with meaningful value while offering brands access to a large and growing audience.

Benefits

• Flexible time off, paid sick leave, and paid holidays
• 401(k) plan with a discretionary employer match
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account options
• Voluntary coverage such as Critical Illness, Group Accident, and Voluntary Life
• Employee referral program
• On-site gym
• Discounts on GOVX purchases

Additional information

This is a professional office role based in San Diego, California. The role uses standard office tools and equipment. The position is full-time and onsite.

Equal opportunity statement

GOVX is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes veterans and disabled candidates.