Category Manager, Center Store Grocery

Executive Leadership Solutions; Boca Raton (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Executive Leadership Solutions seeks a Category Manager in Boca Raton, FL to lead a category team toward market share targets and customer loyalty. You will source and price products, negotiate terms with vendors, and drive gross profit and inventory turns across stores and depots.

The role requires strong analytical and negotiation skills, Excel proficiency, and a track record in retail management or purchasing. This position is on-site in Boca Raton with regular vendor collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with related purchasing/retail experience preferred.
• Strong analytical, organizational and communication skills.
• Experience with P&L, budgeting and operating statements is preferred.
• Ability to negotiate vendor terms and manage pricing and promotions.

Responsibilities

• Lead category strategy to hit gross profit and sales targets.
• Source, price, and market products; build vendor programs.
• Monitor inventory, set store allocations, and optimize assortment.
• Develop marketing plans and negotiate vendor funding for promotions.
• Prepare monthly P&L reviews and take corrective actions.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Negotiation

Communication skills

Financial analysis

Time management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or equivalent

Three years related experience or training

Tools

MS Office Suite

Excel

Job description

The Category Manager is accountable for leading a category team that strategizes to deliver market share targets and build consumer loyalty. Achieve sales, inventory turns and gross profit targets in assigned merchandise departments. To source, price and market product to profitably grow the assigned department to the gross profit line. Build vendor alliances and programs that build long term health of assigned merchandise departments.

Key Accountabilities:

To continually evaluate all available vendors and select the appropriate vendors based on the following criteria: cost, terms, service level, time in transit (cost of interest and necessary inventory level) and quality

• Establish the appropriate retail prices to attain the budgeted gross profit
• Ensure that product selection is appropriate to marketplace.
• Monitor inventory levels in the stores and depots to the budgeted goals
• Build allocations by store
• Negotiate vendor terms such as freight, order minimums, service level and costs
• On a yearly basis, negotiate vendor funding to support marketing and in store merchandising efforts
• Continually seek new merchandise through publications, trade shows, and vendor meetings
• Meet sales and budgeted margin goals

Ensure that all necessary tasks are done each month to make sure that margin budgets are met for each period

• Manage pricing and markdowns at store level
• Continually communicate with store personnel regarding competitive pricing on category items
• Assist the Operations department and store personnel to continually improve and refine the product mix being offered in each store to attain the maximum sales per square foot

Develop strategic marketing plans including: advertising, in store specials, promotional and special buys

• Meet with marketing each week to discuss all promotional activity
• Monitor and report weekly on promotional costs and benefits
• Maintain a yearly merchandise marketing calendar for assigned categories
• Manage promotional markdowns within budget

Perform category assessments on all categories and implement changes necessary as outlined in plan. Category plans must be done once a year with a chosen vendor partner, assigning roles, strategies and goals that meet format strategies. This includes all major financial performance goals of: profitable sales, costing, pricing, and assortment

• Meet category assessment timelines as assigned by VP of Procurement & Marketing
• Monitor and report on category performance post assessments. Refine as needed on an ongoing basis
• Provide schematics for store layouts
• Gather and analyze consumer data, market and industry information to ensure proper formulation of strategies and tactics that enables effective prediction and reaction to the industry trends in order to drive innovation in the assigned categories

Assist in setting the initial sales, gross margin, and inventory forecasts used in developing the final operating budget. Put plans in place to meet monthly budgets as outlined through retail management, vendor rebates, and markdown management

• Monthly, report on P&L results and take corrective action as needed

Desired Skills & Experience:

• Bachelors degree in business or equivalent from a 4 year college or Three year related experience or training or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Extensive MS Office Suite experience including above average knowledge of Excel
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills
• Strong math skills
• Aptitude with successful negotiations
• Strong communication skills both oral and written
• 5 years retail experience in a supervisory role, retail management and/or previous purchasing experience preferred
• Experience with Profit and Loss statement review, budgeting and operating statement review experience preferred
• Strong customer service skills
• Ability to problem solve complex issues; know when to accelerate
• Impeccable attention to detail
• Strong time management
• High aptitude and resolve to achieve goals
• Ability to negotiate with vendors to meet Category targets and objectives
• Ability to set own priorities based on workload
• Ability to work well with a team
• Able to thrive in a high-stress and fast-paced environment
• Financial analysis capabilities
• Must be able to work independently with limited direction

Working Conditions:

• Fast paced office environment
• Primarily computer work; able to sit or stand in one place for long periods of time
• Multiple phone calls and meetings on a daily/weekly basis
• Open area office environment
• Ability to travel 30% of the time.

Location: Boca Raton, FL