Senior Category Manager - Grocery

Sprouts Farmers Market; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

15% discount for family

Flexible schedules

401(k) with company match

Life insurance paid

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Sprouts Farmers Market is seeking a Senior Category Manager in the Grocery department to lead product development, evaluate market trends, and drive category performance under the Director of Grocery. You will analyze sales data and pricing, launch new products, and manage the procurement lifecycle to ensure quality and compliance.

In this role you will negotiate vendor agreements, collaborate with the pricing team, and lead teams to build winning strategies that enhance sales velocity and

Qualifications

• Five years of departmental experience in merchandising or management
• Experience in buying and negotiating
• Strong strategic and financial planning skills
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and the Internet
• Ability to handle confidential information and meet deadlines
• Understanding of P/L statements and margins
• Some travel required

Responsibilities

• Develop category strategies to win market share
• Lead pricing and vendor negotiations
• Guide ACM and Merchandising Specialist teams
• Drive category reviews and launch innovations
• Collaborate with pricing, vendors, and brokers
• Create merchandising and promotional plans for OPS and stores
• Oversee department marketing plans and ads

Skills

Strategic leadership

Vendor negotiations

Merchandising strategy

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Outlook

Internet

Job description

Overview

The Senior Category Manager plays a strategic leadership role in overseeing product development and category performance within the Grocery department, under the guidance of the Director of Grocery. This role is responsible for driving product innovation, evaluating market trends, and ensuring alignment with Sprouts' quality standards. The Senior Category Manager conducts in-depth analyses of sales data, consumer trends, pricing, and product quality to assess value and sales velocity. Key responsibilities include researching and launching new products or brands, negotiating vendor agreements, and managing the procurement lifecycle from selection and ordering to payment authorization ensuring that all activities support departmental objectives and contractual compliance.

Overview

The Senior Category Manager plays a strategic leadership role in overseeing product development and category performance within the Grocery department, under the guidance of the Director of Grocery. This role is responsible for driving product innovation, evaluating market trends, and ensuring alignment with Sprouts' quality standards. The Senior Category Manager conducts in-depth analyses of sales data, consumer trends, pricing, and product quality to assess value and sales velocity. Key responsibilities include researching and launching new products or brands, negotiating vendor agreements, and managing the procurement lifecycle from selection and ordering to payment authorization ensuring that all activities support departmental objectives and contractual compliance.

Overview Of Responsibilities

• Embrace our purpose of helping people live and eat better and bring that to life in your categories.


• Develop strategies to win market share at the segment level (Pantry, Snacks etc) that supports broader Grocery and Sprouts strategies. Includes ecommerce and stores.


• Support all Sprouts standards for products carried in the department and assure all vendor products meet those standards on quality and price.


• Manage, develop and coach the ACM and Merchandising Specialist that report to you to create a productive working relationship that will elevate the Grocery Department and help them progress in their careers.


• Help the merchant team evolve to manage not only sales, but segment level gross profit and stronger disciplines around inventory management.


• Drive the category review process with all CFT’s. Launch innovation faster than our competition. Find the optimal balance of building emerging brands and driving strong sales on existing favorites.


• Partner with the pricing team and negotiate with suppliers to stay competitive with the broader market on base pricing, and deliver Sprouts profit needs.


• Establish retail and promotional pricing across the department to meet budgetary goals


• Lead JBP vendor partnerships and expand our depth of collaboration with vendors and brokers across the business. Build win-win partnerships that enhance our reputation in the industry.


• Build and create customers favorite items in partnership with the Sprouts Brand Team. Align projects with category and department initiatives and emerging industry trends.


• Develop and communicate easy to use merchandising & promotional plans and directives for OPS and stores to execute


• Oversee all department marketing plans and ads, including weekly flyer, DOT, etc


• Respond to vendor/customer/store issues as needed on a timely basis


• Desire to grow with Sprouts into greater leadership roles.

Qualifications

• Preferred bachelor’s degree in business or related field with a minimum of five (5) years of departmental experience, with experience as Merchandiser or Manager preferred


• Previous buying/negotiating experience required


• Requires long-term strategic and financial planning skills


• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and the Internet


• Ability to preserve confidentiality of information, communicate with all levels of management and work within strict time frames and resolute deadlines


• Complete understanding of P/L statements, general ledgers, and margins


• Some travel required

Benefits

In addition to a rewarding career, Sprouts offers a comprehensive program to help support you and your family. These programs include:

• Competitive pay


• Sick time plan that you can use to support you or your immediate families health


• Vacation accrual plan


• Opportunities for career growth


• 15% discount for you and one other family member in your household on all purchases made at Sprouts


• Flexible schedules


• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)


• 401(K) Retirement savings plan with a generous company match


• Company paid life insurance


• Contests and appreciation events throughout the year full of prizes, food and fun!

Eligibility Requirements May Apply For The Following Benefits

• Bonus based on company and/or individual performance


• Affordable benefit coverage, including medical, dental and vision


• Health Savings Account with company match


• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care


• Company paid short-term disability coverage


• Paid parental leave for both mothers and fathers


• Paid holidays

Get Paid Every Day!

Sprouts Farmers Market offers DailyPay - if you’re hired as an eligible employee, you’ll be able to transfer the money you’ve already earned at no extra cost, and get it the next business day, for free. We offer DailyPay so you don’t have to wait for payday to access the money you’ve already worked for. With DailyPay, you can see how much you’ve made every day and you can transfer your money any time before payday.

You can learn more by visiting https://www.dailypay.com/partners/sprouts-farmers-market/.

Why Sprouts

Grow with us!

If you have a passion for inspiring people and a flair for fresh food, consider applying for a job at Sprouts! With a focus on customer service, our neighborhood grocery stores offer high-quality, farm fresh produce, natural meats, plenty of scoop-your-own bulk goods and much more in a fun, friendly, old-fashioned farmer’s market setting. Come grow your career in healthy living with a fast-paced, rapidly growing company and teams that pride themselves on empowering others along their journey.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements. Sprouts’ management reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

Sprouts will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance.

California Residents: We collect information in accordance with California law, please see here for more information.