The Category Manager shall be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:
Continually developing strategies and initiatives that streamline marketing operations, enhance product development and boost sales. These tasks require a thorough understanding of the organization and its role within the category. They require a solid grasp of the category's products and those in other company categories. Their knowledge of the organization's products, policies and targets can enable them to make strategic business choices that correspond to the company's goals. (S)he will manage product inventory and conduct periodic assessments to reconcile inventory levels.
Key Responsibilities:
- Category Planning: Develop and execute category strategies based on customer insights, market trends, and sales data to grow sales and profitability.
- Retail Support:Act as a central point of contact for store teams, addressing product issues, planogram support, pricing updates, and in-store execution.
- Product Assortment Management:Define and maintain a localized assortment mix tailed to store formats and demographics.
- Promotions Planning:Collaborate with marketing and store teams to create effective promotional campaigns, seasonal offers, and in-store activations.
- Supplier and Vendor Management: Build strong supplier relationships to negotiate cost prices, promotional funding, payment terms, and service levels.
- Stock & Supply Chain Coordination: Work closely with replenishment and supply chain teams to ensure optimal stock levels, manage availability, and reduce waste and out-of-stocks.
- Pricing Strategy:Monitor competitor pricing and lead the pricing strategy to ensure competitiveness and margin targets.
- Planogram and Layout Support: Work with visual merchandising and store planning to ensure effective product presentation and space utilization.
- Performance Analysis: Monitor category performance using KPIs (sales, margin, waste, availability, etc.) and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Compliance & Standards:Ensure product compliance with food safety, legal, and quality standards.
Required Technical Skills:
- Basic math and reading skills.
- Proficient in MS Excel, data analytics tools, and retail management systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, JDA)
- Ability to work well with numbers.
- Ability to have good phone etiquette.
- Understanding of retail POS and ERP systems.
Required Soft Skills:
- Ability to work without direct supervision.
- Excellent verbal communication skills.
- Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.
- Coachable and willing to learn.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to multitask.
- Strong negotiation and organizational skills
- Ability to work cross-functionally and in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Educations, Certifications and Experience:
The following is required:
- Bachelor's degree in business, Retail Management, Supply Chain, or a related field.
- 3-5 years of experience in category management, merchandising, or buying in a grocery retail environment.
- Knowledge of grocery products, retail operations, and customer behavior
The following is preferred:
- Experience in supporting store networks in a grocery or supermarket setting
- Understanding of retail POS and ERP systems
- Knowledge of planogram tools and merchandising software
- Analytical mindset with a data-driven approach to decision-making
Physical Requirements:
(S)he will be required to sit and stand for long periods of time. Will be required to lift and move large amounts of paperwork (boxes of files). Will be required to stoop, bend, and reach above the head and below the knees to file and retrieve data.
I understand the description of this job and the essential functions, as given above. I also understand that all the duties are not described above and that I will perform those above and other related duties as directed by my supervisor.
Other:
The Category Manager is a salary (exempt) role and reports to the Vice President of Strategic Development.
Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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