Category Manager I – Produce

Kroger Co.; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Flexible scheduling

Employee Assistance Program

Associate discounts

Tuition reimbursement

Training and development programs

Job summary

Kroger Co. in Cincinnati is seeking a Category Leader responsible for end-to-end assortment, financials, and category strategy across all channels.

You will translate local needs into data-driven decisions with inputs from support teams, upholding Kroger's values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety. You will develop formalized short and long-term category strategies, monitor planograms, pricing, promotions, and vendor relationships, and lead a team to optimize SKUs

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in replenishment buying/procurement, merchandising, store management, operations, or brand management.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Strong organization and multi-tasking skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and train.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent oral/written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop formalized short and long-term category strategies and tactics that deliver a unified customer experience across all channels.
• Stay ahead of industry trends; understand market share and competition; communicate changes and initiatives to relevant parties.
• Drive full product life-cycle, including add/deletes and cross-functional meetings.
• Build assortment using data from vendors and Our Brands; gather input during feedback windows.
• Oversee plan-o-gram process, deadlines, placement, and flow to meet guidelines.
• Track SKU performance and adjust assortment to meet financial and strategic goals.
• Maintain category budgets, forecasts, and plans; contribute to total enterprise goals.
• Establish price and category architecture and provide input on pricing trends and programs.
• Review pricing program inclusions and deviations from pricing algorithm recommendations.
• Oversee end-to-end product flow and coordinate with stores during supply issues.
• Manage vendor relationships and negotiate prices; stay ahead of industry trends.
• Lead and coach direct reports; conduct performance reviews.

Skills

Replenishment buying

Procurement

Merchandising

Store management

Operations

Brand management

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Serve as the leader of a category of small to medium size and/or complexity and have the 4Ps accountability across all channels. Responsible for owning end-to-end assortment, financials, and overall category strategy with inputs from support teams to make data-driven decisions that reflect local needs. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety.

Responsibilities

• Develop formalized short and long-term category strategies and tactics that deliver a unified customer experience across all channels (brick & mortar, extended aisle, digital shelf)
• Stay ahead of and respond to industry/customer trends; understand market share and competition; elevate communication to relevant parties (i.e. Our Brands or Divisions) with changes and important initiatives
• Understand all available levers across 4Ps to drive category forward and achieve KPIs and goals; be proficient across all systems (NEXT, Stratum, etc.); drive and manage full product life-cycle, including add/deletes and relevant cross-functional meetings
• Build assortment after reviewing data from vendors, 84.51 and Our Brands; gather division input during feedback window, managing expectations and communication on segmentation and local assortment needs
• Oversee plan-o-gram process, including deadlines, placement, and flow, ensuring guidelines are met
• Track and monitor SKU performance and adjust assortment, as needed, to meet financial and strategic goals
• Maintain category budgets, forecasts, and plans; understand contribution to total enterprise and division goals
• Establish price and category architecture and provide input on trends for programs
• Review inclusion in pricing programs with an eye to item financial performance and category strategy
• Set base prices and use data to evaluate decisions to deviate from pricing algorithm recommendations
• Determine response to competitor price moves or cost change based on recommendation from Pricing team
• Oversee promotional strategy to engage customers and drive excitement
• Review past ad performance and define promo strategies & goals, including A/B strategies for major promos
• Select products for promotion, leveraging data on shelf capacity, number of stores selling, display locations
• Set starting promotional prices and define guardrails for promo planners as they tailor prices to divisions
• Understand timing of Test & Learns and how to properly manage process
• Oversee end-to-end product flow and provide direction for stores/replenishment when supply issues occur
• Manage strategic vendor relationships, including communicating priorities and assortment opportunities, identifying long-term supply changes, negotiating competitive prices, and staying ahead of industry trends
• Engage vendors, source promo offers, decide on awards; provide directional forecast needs
• Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Qualifications

• Minimum
• 3+ years of experience in one of the following areas: replenishment buying/procurement, merchandising, store management, operations, or brand management
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Strong organization and multi-tasking skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to coach and train
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent oral/written communication skills
• Desired
• Bachelor's Degree
• Any vendor negotiations or promo planning experience
• Any division sales manager, store coordinator, or store manager experience

Job Info

• Job Identification 243395
• Job Category Category Management/Merchandising
• Posting Date 10/21/2026, 06:31 PM
• Locations 1014 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH, 45202, US (On-site)

The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:

• A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
• Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
• Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching.
• Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
• Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
• Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.

From one tiny Cincinnati grocery store more than a century ago, we’ve grown into what today is the nation’s largest grocer with nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names. As America’s grocer, we take pride in bringing diverse teams with a passion for food and people together with one common purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. With a history of innovation, we work tirelessly to create amazing experiences for our customers, communities AND each other, with food at the heart of it all.

Here, people matter. That’s why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you’re caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited.

Whether you’re seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we’ve got a fresh opportunity for you.