Category Merchandising Manager - Beef - US Foods : Job Details

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Research potential customer requirements, menu design, business size, current suppliers, etc.; analyze current trends within the market and remain informed of beef market conditions, product innovations, competitors' products, prices, and sales. Share information with chefs/specialists to provide customers with new menu ideas and products.

• In coordination with local merchandising & sales leadership teams, develop and implement plan for beef share growth strategy. Ensure implementation is in alignment with overall US Foods category strategy and goals, as defined by Region & Area.

• Drive KPIs across category (including sales case growth, category penetration, EB penetration, and TM feedback) and competitive market pricing; work with TMs to refine customer product offering, order guides and potential pricing for new accounts.

• Communicate changing market conditions and weekly talking points for the sales team and top beef customers.

• Become an expert on assigned US Foods exclusive brands programs. Understand full product specifications, sourcing model, seasonality, and product variations to work directly with vendors & customers.

• Work with merchandising & marketing to communicate incoming products, current inventory, item movement/history, seasonal projections, and potential/current outages to all. Communicate with sales management on existing contract inventory levels, future buys and dead inventory.

• Work directly with local merchandising team to review NPD, Circana Category Share and NLP to develop beef strategy and development plan.

• Train sales reps and specialists throughout the market area on key features and benefits of the category and how to better position the product with our customers. Develop a seasonality tracker for training and buying.

• Build relationships with all sales management and tier 1 beef customers to develop sales plans for excessive inventory, customer bids, and segment strategy. Maintain ongoing relationships with key decision makers; leverage industry contacts to follow decision makers as they move.

• Leverage SME to support Specialists/NBMs/DSMs/RSMs in opening new accounts with highest potential and accompany them on high potential accounts' visits to provide strategic category expertise.

• Other duties as assigned by manager.

SUPERVISION:

• N/A

RELATIONSHIPS

• Internal: Will work directly with local sales, sales support, and merchandising teams. Will work closely with beef commodity procurement manager and field category manager to build and execute strategy.

• External: Manage relationships with approved corporate and local beef vendors. Also responsible for building and maintaining customer relationships with top tier beef customers and prospects.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Hybrid: This role is partially remote, and the associate is expected to perform assigned responsibilities from a combined home-based and office-based environment.

• Build & maintain relationships with top-tier beef customers through a combination of in-person visits and telecommunication. Requires use of personal vehicle and visits to accounts.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 4 years sales experience required, with some project management experience preferred, ideally in food service or food manufacturing industries.

• 20% of overnight travel required.

• Strong knowledge of a wide variety of beef cuts and processing methods preferred.

EDUCATION

• Four-year college degree in business or related field, or equivalent field experience required.

CERTIFICATIONS/TRAINING

• N/A

LICENSES

• N/A

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Ability to operate within a matrix organization, work with multiple groups, drive transformation, and support organizational change. Must be self-directed and highly motivated with strong business acumen, interpersonal skills, and presentation skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel required; working knowledge of PowerPoint is required.

Education

• Four-year college degree in business or related field, or equivalent field experience required.

PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be able to perform the following physical activities for described length of time

OCCASIONALLY: 1% - 33 / FREQUENTLY: 34% - 66% / CONTINUOUSLY: 67% - 100% or NEVER

JOB REQUIRES WORKER TO:

FREQUENCY:

STAND: OCCASIONALLY

WALK: OCCASIONALLY

DRIVE VEHICLE: FREQUENTLY

SIT: FREQUENTLY

LIFT

1-10 lbs (Sedentary): OCCASIONALLY

11-20 lbs (Light): OCCASIONALLY

21-50 lbs (Medium): OCCASIONALLY

51-100 lbs (Heavy): OCCASIONALLY

Over 100 lbs (Very Heavy): NEVER

CARRY

1-10 lbs (Sedentary): OCCASIONALLY

11-20 lbs (Light): OCCASIONALLY

21-50 lbs (Medium): OCCASIONALLY

51-100 lbs (Heavy): OCCASIONALLY

Over 100 lbs (Very Heavy): NEVER

PUSH/PULL 1: NEVER

CLIMB/BALANCE 2: NEVER

STOOP/SQUAT: NEVER

KNEEL: NEVER

BEND: NEVER

REACH ABOVE SHOULDER: OCCASIONALLY

TWIST: OCCASIONALLY

GRASP OBJECTS 3: OCCASIONALLY

MANIPULATE OBJECTS 4: OCCASIONALLY

MANUAL DEXTERITY 5: CONTINUOUSLY

1 (Push/Pull: Hand truck, gate, straps, metal ramp, truck door, dolly, boxes, truck gear shift)

2 (Climb/Balance: In/Out Truck/Trailer to cab. On/Off ramp to ground level and side doorsteps and Platform of trailer. Stairs)

3 (Grasp Objects: Hand truck, boxes, cartons, steering wheel)

4 (Manipulate Objects: Boxes, dolly, metal truck ramp, hand truck, paperwork, truck gate, straps)

5 (Manual Dexterity: Typing, use of office machines such as copiers, printers)