Manager CMP

Ahold Delhaize; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading grocery retailer in the United Kingdom seeks a Category Manager to oversee vendor negotiations and category strategies. The successful candidate will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure optimal product assortment and performance. Responsibilities include managing vendor relationships, leading merchandising initiatives, and developing comprehensive category strategies. The ideal candidate will have 5-8 years of experience in retail merchandising and strong analytical and negotiation skills.

Benefits

Equal employment opportunity

Training and development programs

Career advancement opportunities

Qualifications

• 5-8 years experience in retail merchandising, supply chain, or distribution.
• Knowledge in Fresh or Center Store categories.
• Basic financial planning and budgeting experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead vendor negotiations and manage relationships.
• Collaborate on category strategy and merchandising.
• Assist in forecasting and program development.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical skills

Excellent communication

Microsoft Office Suite

Customer Service

Tools

SEGA DSS

LlamaSoft

WMS

Tableau

Job description

Position Summary

Responsible for intense negotiations and management of vendor relationships with minimal supervision from the Category Manager (CM). Will provide leadership coverage for the Category team when the CM is unavailable. Will lead the processes of shelf presentation, assortment decisions, cost negotiations, promotional planning, as well as product and program development for assigned Categories. Will work collaboratively with Shelf Merchandising, Banner Merchandising, Pricing and Replenishment to implement the execution of a comprehensive, cohesive and well-integrated Category plan in support of each Banner’s strategy and Integrated Business Plan. Also responsible for collaborating with Retail Operations, Marketing, Category Services, Our Brands and Supply Chain to ensure maximum organizational alignment and optimal portfolio performance according to established goals and strategic plans.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the Category Manager with providing day‑to‑day directions for implementation and support of strategies and initiatives of Category Merchandising & Pricing.
• Provide leadership coverage for the team when CM is unavailable.
• Work collaboratively across departments to meet budgeted key performance metrics which include but are not limited to:
• Responsible for all aspects of analysis for categories being analyzed that will support achievement of Banner strategies.
• Assist the CM with negotiating the most advantageous programs with vendors and actively seeking out new opportunities to reduce costs while maintaining an optimal item mix.
• Assist the CM with negotiating the lowest cost including all elements that impact costs such as logistics, distribution, shrink and reclaim, including swell allowances.
• Collaborate closely with Supply Chain (SC) and MGP business areas.
• Ensure appropriate assortment mix changes as each Category moves through review.
• Use assortment principles for each Banner as guidelines for ensuring each Banner has the right product on the shelf at the right time.
• Understand what consumers value most from each Category and meet their needs in a profitable way.
• Ensure promotional plans are developed using identified lead items that will leverage margin while meeting the standards for the defined category role and strategy for each Banner.
• Validate compliance of best practice promotional planning feature/display activity and in‑store shopper marketing investments to effectively grow market share for the Category while meeting margin targets.
• Assist in the creation of a comprehensive, cohesive Category strategy that will meet the needs of the consumers and achieve Category goals while supporting the Banner Integrated Business Plan.
• Validate compliance of the on‑shelf Category assortment presentation and item mix, ensuring it reflects the unique needs of each Category while aligning with the Category role for each Banner.
• Assist the CM to manage vendor allowances to ensure targets are met.
• Leverage Our Brand items to build consumer loyalty and profitability within the Category as well as Ahold Delhaize.
• Managing commodity items that require product knowledge and insights both domestic and foreign.
• Collaborate with the Fresh Foods Buyers and RBS to deliver service and inventory level goals.
• Assist with forecasting of ad items and seasonal projections.
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and training materials for Category Analysts.
• Partner with Indirect Sourcing on supply decisions.
• Develop Sales Margin, Shrink and Labor projections for each new program.
• Maintain and update the order guide.
• Provide off‑shelf merchandising recommendations to Banner Merchandising teams in support of the Banner ad themes and strategies.
• Communicate Banner strategies openly and effectively to teams and vendor community.
• Serve as the market resource expert for assigned Categories.
• Responsible for the development, talent planning and performance management of self.

Sales Movement, Market Share and Net Contribution metrics. These key performance metrics are meant to be comprehensive in nature but are not limited to the list above due to changing nature of business priorities.

Basic Qualification

• Basic knowledge of applicable practice areas (i.e., Fresh or Center Store categories).
• Fresh Categories include but are not limited to: Produce, Meat/Seafood, HMS, Deli, Bakery.
• Center Store Categories are considered any category not listed in Fresh above.
• Basic financial planning and budgeting experience.
• Cross‑functional leadership experience with a demonstrated ability to build cross‑functional teams.
• Demonstrated relationship management experience with vendors, brokers and third‑party consultants.
• Basic level of knowledge for company business and industry practices.

Experience

• 5‑8 years combined experience in retail merchandising, category pricing, logistics, supply chain, procurement and distribution.
• Knowledge of applicable practice areas (i.e., Fresh or Center Store categories).
• Fresh Categories include but are not limited to: Produce, Meat/Seafood, HMS, Deli, Bakery.
• Center Store Categories are considered any category not listed in Fresh above.
• Mature level of knowledge for company business and industry practices.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to manage day‑to‑day activity in support of identified business area and functional area strategies.
• Ability to influence organizational alignment across multiple business areas.
• Ability to take an educated risk with implementing programs that support consumer demands.
• Ability to negotiate.
• Ability to think innovatively.
• Demonstrate a personal acceptance of change and the ability to adapt and drive change.
• Demonstrated ability to implement and analyze retail business using consumer insights and trend analysis.
• Active listener with an ability to build trust across varying levels of the organization.
• High degree of credibility and the ability to work with and through all levels of management.
• Excellent organizational, planning, influence, communication and presentation skills.
• Self‑motivated and persuasive in presenting and selling ideas and executing their implementation.
• Experience with the following computer programs: SEGA DSS, LlamaSoft, WMS, PFT, Inforem, Tableau, Revionics, MSP.

Travel

Typically 8‑12%

Key Skills

• Restaurant Experience, Customer Service, Employee Evaluation, Management Experience, Math, Employment & Labor Law, Sanitation, Leadership Experience, P&L Management, Mentoring, Supervising Experience, Restaurant Management

Food Lion provides equal employment opportunities to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions), national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity or gender expression or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you have a disability and require assistance in the application process please contact our Recruiting Department.

Employment Type: Full Time

Vacancy: 1