Category Manager - Packaged Beverage

Holiday Stationstores; Minnetonka (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Circle K in Minnetonka, MN seeks a skilled Merchandising Manager to increase category gross profit by selecting local suppliers, evaluating new products, and negotiating pricing. You will support national activities while guiding junior staff.

You will own local assortment and planogram execution, drive frontline pricing, manage vendor relationships, and develop promotional concepts to boost sales and margins. Travel up to 30% may be required; a valid driver's license is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in advertising, finance, management, business economics, or related field.
• Five years of experience or more preferred in merchandising; including experience in management.
• Proficient in MS Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word preferred.
• Must have strong relationship management, analytical thinking, and financial acumen skills.
• May require up to 30% of travel.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Supports the organization's strategic direction.
• Responsible for local assortment and planogram execution.
• Owns frontline pricing decisions.
• Responsible for vendor operations and local relationships.
• Responsible for planogram implementation – resets (including all 3rd party relationships).
• Responsible for actionable operational reporting (Out of Stock, Zero Sales Reporting, Delivery Frequency, and others as necessary).
• Selects local vendors, negotiates costs, terms for products, and develops schematics by applying category management principles.
• Increases sales revenues by developing promotional concepts and overlay programs on local assortment.
• Establishes and monitors gross margins by forecasting and developing annual sales quotas, projecting expected sales volume and profit for existing and new products, and determining placement and promotions.
• Projects and measures category sales and gross profit results by developing and maintaining records of item cost, retail, and gross margin dollars.
• Maintains external local and national vendor relations by providing direction, guidance, and information, resolving concerns.
• Recommends changes in products, service, and policy by evaluating results and competitive developments.
• Achieves financial objectives by preparing an annual category review, budget, scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances, initiating corrective actions.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reading professional publications, establishing personal networks; or participating in professional societies.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing determined Financial and Key Result Area targets pursuant to Company Plan guidelines.

Skills

Merchandising experience

Relationship management

Analytical thinking

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

MS Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

Job Summary: Increases category gross profit by selecting local suppliers, evaluating new products, and negotiating pricing; planning marketing strategies. Collaborate and support National and Business Area activities for the category. May supervise or provide direction to Junior Category Managers or other merchandising staff positions.

Essential Functions

• Supports the organization strategic direction.
• Responsible for local assortment and planogram execution
• Owns frontline pricing decisions
• Responsible for vendor operations and local relationships
• Responsible for planogram implementation – resets (including all 3rd party relationships)
• Responsible for actionable operational reporting (Out of Stock, Zero Sales Reporting, Delivery Frequency, and others as necessary)
• Selects local vendors, negotiates costs, terms for products, and develops schematics by applying category management principles in accordance with the the organization strategic objectives.
• Increases sales revenues by developing promotional concepts and overlay programs on local assortment.
• Establishes and monitors gross margins by forecasting and developing annual sales quotas, projecting expected sales volume and profit for existing and new products, and determining placement and promotions.
• Projects and measures category sales and gross profit results by developing and maintaining records of item cost, retail, and gross margin dollars.
• Maintains external local and national vendor relations by providing direction, guidance, and information, resolving concerns.
• Recommends changes in products, service, and policy by evaluating results and competitive developments.
• Achieves financial objectives by preparing an annual category review, budget, scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances, initiating corrective actions. Allocates program costs by preparing operational and risk reports for analyses aligning with the organization Merchandising
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reading professional publications, establishing personal networks; or participating in professional societies.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing determined Financial and Key Result Area targets pursuant to Company Plan guidelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in advertising, finance, management, business economics, or related field preferred. Other combinations of experience and education that meet the requirements may be substituted.
• Five years of experience or more preferred in merchandising; including experience in management
• Proficient in MS Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word preferred.
• Must have strong relationship management, analytical thinking, and financial acumen skills.
• May require up to 30% of travel.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Physical Requirements

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Operate computer keyboard and mouse for data entry.
• View computer monitor
• Hear and speak via telephone.
• Reach forward and/or overhead.
• Occasionally lift up to 20 pounds

Work Environment

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate at a normal range.
• The lighting will include natural light from the outside as well as fluorescent lighting throughout the work areas.
• Work with minimum direction and periodic supervision.

Salary Range: $90,000 to $110,000 annually.

Circle K is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Company complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) and all state and local disability laws. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the ADA and certain state or local laws as long as it does not impose an undue hardship on the Company. Please inform the Company’s Human Resources Representative if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.