Category Manager - Grocery

Friday, August 30, 2024PurposeStrategically manages categories and negotiates to increase sales, gross dollars, market share versus prior year, and meet or exceed projected numbers. Recommends pricing, promotion, assortment and shelf planograms for each assigned category, based on detailed analysis of past performance and results, industry best practices, and consumer trends.ResponsibilitiesDrives sales, sets a vision, and executes necessary steps for category successOwns vendor relationship as a primary contact by maintaining quality relations and meeting on a consistent basis for growth results, negotiate future planning, range assortment, and understanding of industry trendsManages P&L, monitoring and recommending prices, to obtain the most aggressive price in the marketWorks closely with partner functions (sourcing, replenishment, supply chain etc.) and communicates category and promotional plans to ensure desired service levels and the optimum inventory position achievedOwns cross functional work with a wide variety of teams such as replenishment, suppliers, branding, and others to fulfill objectives and responsibilities of full ownership to assigned itemsPartners with promotional team on creation and implementation of a promotional calendar by major category and in tracking results at the end of each promotion in terms of sales, P&L share growth, or contributionCollaborates with Space Planning team for POGs, attentive to advertisements, keeping foot traffic in mindDrives product development through understanding market quality of both national and private brand, maintains private brand and product quality, and identifies need (or lack of need) for private brand productsOwns the assortment planning process by making logical recommendations of new items entering the market and discontinuing lines based on potential contribution to the category strategies and departmentTakes ownership in working with the Quality Assurance team to determine the right quality specs and specify composition and sensory requirements of productsHolds supplier accountable to continually provide the negotiated quality within agreement termsCollaborates with analysts and finance and analyzes category through measurement of total contribution to the entire department, previous results, and market trends to create a yearly category business planActs as expert on assigned items with understanding of ingredients, commodity impacts, and packaging costsHeld accountable for gross profit projections at the category level, rolling up to department projections quarterly, monthly, and yearlyPartner with promotional planning and space planning teams to recommend ads and displays in support of the category plans and total department initiatives for storesVisits competition as well as markets, stores, and distribution centers as necessary to observe results of product lines and communicate knowledge of competitive products, performance, and business trendsEnsures all items are in effective and efficient display cases for supply chains and storesPro-actively recognizes issues, defines customer-focused solutions, leads cross functional teams to define actions that will sustainably drive results, and presents strategy to line manager or aboveInitiates and follow through on personnel actions such as: interviewing and providing input used in hiring decisions, and/or providing feedback on performance standardsMaintains formal and informal channels of upward communication; encourage the expression of new ideas, suggestions, and complaints; review them for appropriateness and further actionPerforms other duties as assignedAbout YouBachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing or related field and/or 3-5 years of relevant retail experience3-5 years relevant business experience where a solid understanding of marketing, merchandising, Consumer research and financial management practices have been gainedSolid financial, mathematical, statistical, marketing, merchandising, and consumer research background to read, interpret, and understand how internal and external factors influence financial resultsIn-depth understanding of store operations and merchandising methodologies and practices, including P&L and financial managementFamiliarity with Category Business Planning or ability to learnAbility to read and interpret P&L statement and understand how the categories managed are affectedExceptional skills in negotiation, influencing, analyzing problems and decisions, and taking initiativeInterpersonal skills to build rapport, network, and maintain effective business relationships within and outside the companyStrategy development skills with the ability to manage short-term goals to meet long-term initiatives.Proficient in MS Excel and MS PowerPointUnderstanding of procurement, logistics, inventory managementPhysical RequirementsAbility to travel up to ~10% of the time, which may include weekends and evenings, as neededMost work is performed in a temperature-controlled environmentIncumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminalIncumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephone and other office equipment in the course of a normal workdayStooping, bending, twisting and reaching may be required in completion of job dutiesDrives Results

- Pushing self and stakeholders to achieve goals and resultsEnsures Accountability

- Following through on commitments and making sure others do the samePlans & Aligns

– Planning and prioritizing work to meet stakeholder and business commitments and goalsCommunicates With Influence

- Influencing others to gain support and commitmentOur ValuesAbility to

demonstrate

, understand and apply our workplace values.Simplicity (operate)

– the drive to

identify

root cause and innovate to remove complexity

to

deliver the best outcomeHeart (emotion)

– the passion that drives you to get up every day and work hard to strive for excellencePerformance

Excellence (mindset)

– clearly defining

high expectations

, driving ownership of key roles and responsibilities, executing with integrity and emphasis while creating a culture of accountabilityRespect (philosophy)

–

taking pride in being inclusive and treating everyone who comes through the doors with respect

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by the employees assigned to this job. All

employees must comply with Company policy and applicable laws. The responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified may vary within each department and /or location.

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