Job Description
POSITION PURPOSE
The Category Manager is responsible for the achievement of category sales, profit, market share and cost objectives within their categories. This position plans, directs and monitors the total procurement, promotion and product assortment for an assigned category, including negotiating lowest procurement costs, maintaining inventory levels, ensuring vendor support, and determining customer satisfaction. This job classification requires strong understanding of category management principles.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES
*Develops strategic annual category plans to support category sales and margin goals.
Executes efficient assortment plans including global brands in store clusters.
Utilizes cost drivers, price elasticity, and competitive price strategies to deliver sales and margin goals.
Develops and executes promotional plans for each category while leveraging global brand differentiation when it is appropriate. Monitors effectiveness of the promotional plan.
Leads the process of continuous improvement and reduction of costs in the category including cost of goods, supplies, and expense items and department equipment requirements.
Participates in the store layout and design for new and remodeled locations and offers subject matter expertise in the selection and acquisition of equipment.
*Evaluates the performance of categories and accomplishes plan objectives.
Conducts analysis of high and low performance at a drill-down level that allows problem identification; develops and implements required changes to increase overall performance.
Monitors and reports supplier performance regarding price, quality, assortment and service. Scorecards supplier performance on a quarterly basis.
Assesses competitive retailers to understand their strengths and weaknesses and identify opportunities and threats, including retailers in other trade channels.
*Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with suppliers to evaluate products, equipment, supplies, and promotional offers.
Applies understanding of cost drivers and negotiating skills to effectively negotiate the best costs with suppliers.
Supports Procurement Analysts to ensure product availability, consistency of supply and service level objectives and applies cost-of-goods insights to drive increased efficiency.
Delivers promotional funds objectives from manufacturers to ensure best possible costs. Collects all funds available to achieve or exceed net margin targets. Collects additional funding to support loyalty program.
Helps negotiate contracts with suppliers/vendors to ensure that business plans are consistent with budget and business goals.
*Conducts seasonal buying trips and participates in product research and development to drive innovation and product transformation within categories.
Works with international agents to identify product and price opportunities and priority buying locations.
Develops a total sell-through strategy for one-time buy/seasonal items that achieves margin along with a planned markdown process.
Understands competitive assessment and historical performance to deliver best-in-class offering to consumers.
Maximizes assortment and devises marketing, merchandising and communications strategies to ensure that new products are successfully launched.
*Provides leadership that represents Bashas’ Leadership Traits and our values to inspire and empower the team to accomplish work and meet business demands.
Interviews, selects, evaluates, and recognizes team member results and actions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field and a minimum of five or more (5+) years of retail grocery category management experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge of the concepts, practices, and procedures of buying, merchandising and retail operations.
Knowledge of the grocery retail industry to influence sales and merchandising strategy.
Experienced in forecasting methods.
SKILLS/ABILITIES:
Advanced knowledge of MS Office suite and sales and merchandising systems.
Strong financial, analytical and negotiation skills.
Ability to develop strategy and set functional policy and direction.
Understanding of manufacturing processes that impact product cost and quality.
Understands international distribution and planning requirements.
Demonstrated success in working complex issues with senior management utilizing highly developed influencing skills.
Ability to respond resourcefully and constructively to new demands, priorities, challenges or obstacles.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships; motivate and inspire high performance contribution of teams.