Category Manager: Strategic Buyer & Merchandiser

UNAVAILABLE; De Pere (WI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Associate Discount

Weekly Pay

Advanced Scheduling

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

401(k) Match

Job summary

Festival Foods in Wisconsin is seeking a Category Manager to lead center store product buying, manage vendor partnerships, and align with the Grocery and Wine/Spirits Sr. Director to achieve gross profit targets.

You will work with wholesalers, brokers and vendors, oversee planograms, and develop strategies to optimize assortment and pricing across store locations. The role emphasizes strong leadership, analytics, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5 years buying and merchandising experience preferred.
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, quantitative analysis, resource allocation and leadership techniques.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, Outlook.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and strong interpersonal skills including verbal communication, listening, negotiation, problem solving, decision making, and being assertive.
• Must work well in a team environment while being collaborative in research and execution of the team plan.

Responsibilities

• Build weekly itemization, pricing and layout for ad insert, direct mail and digital advertising offers that delivers sales and gross profits plans.
• Proof all department advertising for accuracy and completeness.
• Identify suppliers (vendors, brokers, manufacturers), select merchandise, and negotiate contracts.
• Negotiate and purchase products at the most favorable cost in quantities consistent with store trends and sales volume.
• Monitor sales of key items and make adjustments based on competitor market pricing and advertising.
• Manage everyday and seasonal assortments of products for all store locations.
• Review and provide direction on deselection of items, addition of new items and placement for planograms.
• Negotiate advertising, new item and placement fees with vendors.
• Develop key strategies to drive sales, while analyzing market trends of new and existing items.
• Deliver AOP Sales and Gross Profit targets.
• Forecast and place timely orders of key ad items, seasonal items and warehouse inventory.
• Regular, timely attendance in compliance with the work schedule, and adequate notice to find a replacement for occasional absences
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Problem solving

Decision making

Team player

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business or related field or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Festival Foods in Wisconsin is seeking a Category Manager to lead center store product buying, manage vendor partnerships, and align with the Grocery and Wine/Spirits Sr. Director to achieve gross profit targets.

You will work with wholesalers, brokers and vendors, oversee planograms, and develop strategies to optimize assortment and pricing across store locations. The role emphasizes strong leadership, analytics, and cross-functional collaboration.