Category Development Manager

C&S Wholesale Grocers; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC is seeking a Category Development Manager to develop shelf assortment strategies and drive growth through data-driven insights. You will own assortment planning, partner with supply chain and sales, and lead cross-functional initiatives to optimize category performance.

Ideal candidates will have 2–5 years of experience in category management, marketing and sales, plus business degrees.

Qualifications

• Experience in category management, marketing and sales principles.
• Bachelor's and Master's degrees in business disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Owns, creates, manages and delivers warehouse-specific category planograms and related mix options.
• Analyzes data to identify growth opportunities and consumer trends.
• Collaborates with internal supply chain, systems, product and sales management to drive growth.
• Leads manufacturer relationships and communicates cycle guidance.
• Lead assortment planning SOP and ensure process adherence.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Self-motivation

Commercial acumen

Industry knowledge

Education

Bachelor's Degree - Business

Master's Degree - Business

Job description

Position Overview

The Category Development Manager develops the overall shelf assortment strategy for a product category or categories. This position should understand consumer and shopper needs and purchase behavior, new product vitality, importance of private, specialty and regionally-relevant product options that will drive sales and achieve performance targets. This position is responsible for providing product category insights and proposals by analyzing marketing and customer data and monitoring relevant market conditions. Success in this role demands a strong strategic and analytical orientation coupled with exceptional communication skills as well as a highly developed collaborative nature with a clear ambition of driving sustainable category sales and profitability.

Job Description Description

Category Strategy & Assortment

• Owns, creates, manages and delivers warehouse-specific category planograms, related mix options, variety, shopper selection and output quality
• Owns assimilating key corporate growth objectives into assortment planning imperatives, clear retail guidance and instore activation priorities
• Owns determining assortment growth goals in line with the C&S growth plan
• Delivers monitoring, tracking, and communication of assortment and execution KPIs vs results timelines

Analytics

• Owns data synthesis to identify growth and operational opportunities in all product categories
• Owns the analysis and incorporation of key insights to determine industry and consumer trends, product market performance and determining space to sales appropriation
• Utilizes shopper insights in recommending store macro-planning decisions regarding category placement, adjacencies and flow
• Employs shopper insights to make micro-planning decisions of product placement, visibility and adjacencies

Internal and External Connectivity

• Leads manufacturer relationships focused on category mix, assortment and best practices and the incorporation of key learning into planning and activation plans
• Owns internal and external communication relating to cycle guidance and execution
• Owns new product business case development and recommendations
• Collaborates with internal supply chain partners to recommend exit strategies for unsuccessful products
• Collaborates with systems, product and sales management to ensure realization of growth agenda

Planning and Process

• Lead assortment planning SOP and ensure process adherence and proper outputs
• Ensure key information and asset management resources are fully engaged and current

Travel Required

No

Environment Office

Office Temperature (65F to 75F)

Skills Specialized Knowledge

• Working knowledge of most current technologies and products used in the industry
• Strong commercial acumen

Special Skills

• Strong strategic and analytical orientation
• Proven leader, team-builder, and resourceful problem-solver
• Strong organization, project management and stakeholder service skills
• Exceptional presentation, communication, and story-telling skills
• Self-motivated, action-focused mindset

Physical abilities

Other

Years Of Experience

2-5

Experience and knowledge of category management, marketing, and sales principles

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree - Business, Master's Degree - Business

Shift Company

C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC

About Our Company

C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC is an industry leader in supply chain solutions and wholesale grocery supply in the United States. Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S now services customers of all sizes, supplying more than 7,500 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with over 100,000 different products. C&S also proudly operates and supports corporate grocery stores and services independent franchisees under a chain-style model throughout the Midwest, South and Northeast. We are an engaged corporate citizen, supporting causes that positively impact our communities. Working Safely is a Condition of Employment at C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC. C&S Wholesale Grocers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. The Company provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act. C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC is an industry leader in supply chain solutions and wholesale grocery supply in the United States. Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S now services customers of all sizes, supplying more than 7,500 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with over 100,000 different products. C&S also proudly operates and supports corporate grocery stores and services independent franchisee under a chain-style model throughout the Midwest, South and Northeast. We are an engaged corporate citizen, supporting causes that positively impact our communities.