Asst Category Manager, Cake

Kroger Family of Companies; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Kroger Family of Companies seeks a buyer for a discrete category to support category managers with assortment planning, pricing, promotions, and data analysis. You will coordinate with vendors, 84.51 and internal teams to gather inputs and drive results.

In this role you’ll help develop plan-o-grams, monitor SKU performance, and assist with demand forecasts and budget discussions. Proficiency with NEXT and Stratum is preferred, and strong communication is essential.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of replenishment buying/procurement or related experience.
• Intermediate knowledge of Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Strong attention to detail and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Make recommendations on assortment/plan-o-grams for a smaller category area.
• Manage data analysis and day-to-day communication with vendors and divisions.
• Validate local requests with data analysis and align on KPIs with the division.
• Support plan-o-gram process and organize templates/communications.
• Monitor SKU performance and provide feedback to CM for adjustments.
• Suggest category budgets, forecasts and respond to market trends.
• Assist with ad-hoc analysis to support pricing decisions or competitor moves.
• Be proficient across systems (NEXT, Stratum, etc.).
• Support CM in driving promotional strategy and inform future spend.
• Review ad performance, shelf capacity, and store display data for promos.
• Assist in supply chain issue resolution with replenishment and direction.
• Organize information sharing with vendors and forecast needs.

Skills

Replenishment buying

Merchandising

Vendor communication

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

NEXT

Stratum

84.51

Job description

Serve as a buyer of a discrete, smaller category with ultimate sign-off from the category manager (CM). Assist category managers with the tactical work in building assortments, managing KOMPASS process, executing pricing/promotions, and gathering/analyzing data. Demonstrate the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety. RESPONSIBILITIES - Make recommendations on assortment/plan-o-grams for a smaller category area of responsibility, including potential adds/deletes, and engage CM as needed for perspective and final sign-off

• Manage data analysis and day-to-day communication with vendors, 84.51 and Our Brands, and divisions for discrete area; ensure all inputs are gathered in a timely and comprehensive manner
• Validate local requests with data analysis and align on jointly-defined KPIs with the division
• Support plan-o-gram process, including organizing templates and PCOE communications
• Monitor SKU performance on an ongoing assortment to meet financial and strategic goals; establish feedback loop with CM to inform of potential adjustments
• Make recommendations on category budgets, forecasts, and plans; identify trends in business and competitive landscape that may affect health of business
• Support assortment work and testing process for CMs
• Assist with ad-hoc analysis to drive business forward, such as to evaluate decisions to deviate from pricing algorithm recommendations or react to competitor price moves or cost changes
• Be proficient across all systems (NEXT, Stratum, etc.)
• Support CM in driving promotional strategy to engage customers and drive excitement
• Review past ad performance and information on shelf capacity, store sales, and display locations to inform future promotional recommendations
• Assist in supply chain issue resolution with replenishment; update CMs before regular checkpoints and engage as needed to provide direction
• Organize and manage information sharing with vendor, including product lists /SKU information, directional forecast needs, etc
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum

• 2+ years of experience with replenishment buying/procurement, merchandising, store assistant leader, operations or brand management
• Intermediate knowledge of Excel, Word and Outlook
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent oral/written communication skills

Desired

• Bachelors Degree
• Any replenishment buying/procurement experience
• Any division store management experience
• Any exposure to Kroger Category Management Systems, Business Objects, Enterprise Sales Planning (ESP) and 84.51 sciences
• Strong organization and multitasking skills