Category Merchandising Manager: Strategy & Growth

Sysco Corp.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Sysco is seeking a Merchandising Manager to lead a team of category merchandisers, driving revenue and margin growth across product categories. The role focuses on strategy development, vendor relations, pricing, logistics, and cross-functional collaboration to optimize performance.

The position requires 3 years of online merchandising experience, strong leadership, and excellent analytical skills, with responsibilities spanning forecasting, reporting, and training initiatives.

Qualifications

• Requires an undergraduate degree in business or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years experience in online merchandising/category management.
• Demonstrated leadership and coaching ability.
• Strong analytical, mathematical skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Leads the team to deliver high-quality category strategies.
• Fosters teamwork within the department and develops a positive team environment.
• Assists in strategy development and financial forecasting for each category.
• Provides analytics and reporting on top suppliers.
• Makes recommendations to management on category improvements.
• Participates in strategic supplier meetings as needed.
• Supports marketing, communications, and promotional activities.
• Contributes to category management projects and initiatives.
• Collaborates with Sales, Marketing, Logistics, IT and Accounting to meet company goals.
• Creates SOPs and training materials for merchandising.
• Manages supplier rebate table and coordinates with accounting on forecasting.
• Oversees merchandising training programs within the organization.
• Transfers knowledge to improve sales and profitability.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Organization

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Multi-tasking

Education

Undergraduate degree in business and/or minimum

Tools

Excel

Word

Access

PowerPoint

Outlook

Project management software

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

Assist in leading a team of category merchandisers who are responsible for the growth of revenue and margin in specific product categories. The Merchandising Manager will assist in the development and execution of strategy for each category through:

• Vendor/Supplier management – builds relationships and conducts financial negotiations with suppliers
• Product Mix – develops and manages the vendors, suppliers, and products available
• Pricing – maintains competitive and relevant pricing
• Logistics - works with logistics to optimize supplier shipping performance
• Marketing – positions products through web placement, categorization, and marketing efforts
• Reporting – makes decisions based on reporting and provides status and timelines merchandising team members

.
RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads and inspires the team to deliver high-quality category strategies
• Works to foster teamwork within the department and to cultivate a team environment
• Assists in strategy development and category financial forecasting with Category Merchandisers for each category
• Provide analytics and reporting on the Top 10 suppliers
• Make recommendations to management on category improvements
• Participates in “Strategic” supplier meetings with Category Merchandisers when available and/or necessary
• Assists in providing input for marketing, communication, and promotional activities
• Assists in category management activities and projects
• Works closely with the Admin/Project Manager to set priorities, timelines, and results reporting
• Develops SOPS and training materials for merchandising
• Manages the supplier rebate table and meets with accounting to forecast
• Coordinates the Merchandising training programs for the organization
• Transfers knowledge from category management initiatives to the organization to improve the sales and profitability of the company
• Handles Customer Service/sales issues where and when appropriate
• Keep updated on all contracts and well versed on competitive programs and changes within the supply base
• Works cross-functionally with sales, marketing, logistics, IT and accounting to support company goals
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Undergraduate degree in business and/or minimum

Experience

• 3 years’ experience in online merchandising
• Leadership qualities and ability to coach and supervise
• Exceptional organization and attention to detail
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills
• Negotiation skills
• 3 years of planning and/or management experience
• Intermediate to Microsoft skills: Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project management software

Skills

• Exceptional organizational skills
• Strong communication skills: written and verbal
• Independent thinker
• Attention to detail
• Excellent people skills and the ability to establish a rapport with a wide variety of people from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to write short correspondence
• Ability to speak and write English in a clear, understandable manner
• Ability to accurately follow detailed procedures and processes
• Ability to work accurately in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work with a diverse group of people
• Ability to work comfortably under pressure
• Ability to prioritize and work multiple tasks and exceeds deadlines
• Ability to work independently and with a group on various on-going projects simultaneously
• Effectively communicate with internal and external customers (management, co-workers, vendors, and customers.)
• Must be able to perform basic arithmetic calculations (e.g., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and percentage functions.)
• Ability to concentrate for extended periods of time
• Must have the ability to carry out instructions furnished in both oral and written form
• Ability to act in an ethical, honest and professional manner at all times
• Desire to work independently as well as in a team environment
• Maintain discretion with all company information regarding customers, pricing, products, and procedures

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time
• Must be able to bend, reach and stoop occasionally to reach file cabinets, boxes, etc
• Must be able to look at a computer screen for prolonged periods of time and type
• Requires the ability to read written instructions, reports and other documentation
• The employee must occasionally lift, carry and/or move up to 30 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
• The employee frequently is required to talk or hear
• The noise level in the work environment is usually light to moderate

Working Conditions
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.