Grocery Category Manager (L'OCA Sherwood Park)

L'OCA; Sherwood Park, Malpeque; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the grocery retail sector is seeking a Grocery Category Manager to develop strategic category plans and manage promotional activities. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills and vendor negotiation experience to drive growth and enhance customer satisfaction. This role requires a proactive approach and hands-on experience in promotional planning.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Category Manager, Buyer, or similar role within the grocery or FMCG industry.
• Strong understanding of retail promotions and pricing strategies.
• Excellent negotiation and vendor management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement data-driven category strategies.
• Lead end-to-end promotional planning and execution.
• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships.

Skills

Analytical skills

Vendor negotiation

Organizational skills

Detail-oriented

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking a results-driven Grocery Category Manager with a deep understanding of the grocery retail landscape and promotional dynamics. This role is critical in shaping the strategy, execution, and performance of assigned grocery categories. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical skills, vendor negotiation experience, and a proactive mindset to drive profitable growth and exceed customer expectations.

A strong sense of urgency and hands-on experience with promotional planning are essential.

Key Responsibilities:

• Category Strategy & Planning
  • Develop and implement data-driven category strategies that align with business goals and consumer needs.
  • Plan and optimize product assortments based on customer demand, seasonality, and industry trends.
  • Manage product lifecycle, including new item introductions and end-of-life markdowns.
• Promotional Management
  • Lead end-to-end promotional planning, including item selection, pricing strategy, ad flyer coordination, and in-store display execution.
  • Collaborate with vendors and internal teams to develop impactful ad campaigns and promotional events.
  • Monitor promo effectiveness and adjust future plans based on performance data.
• Vendor & Pricing Management
  • Build and maintain strong vendor relationships to negotiate pricing, promotions, and terms.
  • Ensure accurate and timely updates of regular, promotional, and markdown pricing across systems.
  • Oversee the new item setup process from vendor onboarding to pricing and coding.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with marketing, supply chain, and store operations teams to ensure flawless execution of category plans.
  • Act as the category expert, providing insight and recommendations to internal stakeholders.
• Analytics & Reporting
  • Analyze sales, margin, turnover, and market data to drive category performance.
  • Monitor industry and consumer trends to stay ahead of the competition and spot new opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a Category Manager, Buyer, or similar role within the grocery or FMCG industry.
• Strong understanding of retail promotions, pricing strategies, and category performance metrics.
• Excellent negotiation and vendor management skills.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities with urgency.