Bakery Category Merchant Lead: Growth & Strategy

Amazon; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 73,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

Whole Foods Market in Austin, TX is seeking a dynamic Category Merchant Manager for Bakery to lead category strategy, profitability, and assortments in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment.

You will partner with suppliers, manage pricing and promotions, and collaborate with Merchandising Planning, Operations, Procurement, and marketing to deliver customer-centric product selection and strong business results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 4+ years of equivalent professional experience.
• Experience in one of several roles: quantitative/financial analysis, retail buying, retail planning & allocation, product/project management, pricing, marketing or e-commerce.
• Knowledge of finance, accounting, business or related field focused on analytics.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience coordinating cross-functional inputs, meeting deadlines, and effectively managing competing priorities.
• Experience in problem solving and delivering results.
• Experience communicating clearly and concisely with leadership, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.
• Experience that includes strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Strategize & Innovate: Create data-driven, customer-centric category strategies leveraging customer insights, market trends, and competitive analysis.
• Drive Financial Performance: Take ownership of P&L for your categories. Develop and execute seasonal and annual strategies aligned with business goals.
• Curate Assortments: Collaborate with suppliers to bring the best products to our stores and online channels. Lead line reviews, assortment planning, and item forecasting.
• Pricing & Promotion: Shape pricing strategies that balance profitability with customer value. Partner with marketing to support impactful promotional events.
• Supplier Relationships: Build and maintain strong partnerships with suppliers. Negotiate for early access to new products, exclusive items, and competitive costs.
• Item Management: Maintain accurate item-level data in partnership with support teams, adhering to regulatory compliance standards.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Merchandising Planning, Operations, Procurement, and other teams to ensure smooth execution of category goals.
• Analyze & Adapt: Monitor category performance and adapt strategies based on data insights. Lead testing initiatives to continuously improve offerings.
• Brand Advocacy: Represent and promote Whole Foods Market brand values, products, and mission as a trusted representative internally and externally.

Skills

Data-driven

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

4+ years of equivalent professional experience

Job description

Whole Foods Market in Austin, TX is seeking a dynamic Category Merchant Manager for Bakery to lead category strategy, profitability, and assortments in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment.

You will partner with suppliers, manage pricing and promotions, and collaborate with Merchandising Planning, Operations, Procurement, and marketing to deliver customer-centric product selection and strong business results.