Senior Category Manager - Grocery

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.; Phoenix, Northern (AZ, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

15% family discount on all Sprouts, as

401(K) Retirement savings plan with a|

Company paid life insurance

Job summary

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. is seeking a Senior Category Manager to lead strategic product development and category performance in Grocery.

You will drive innovation, evaluate market trends, and ensure alignment with Sprouts quality standards, overseeing vendor agreements and the procurement lifecycle from selection to payment authorization. In this role you will analyze sales data and consumer trends to optimize value and velocity, manage cross-functional teams, and partner with pricing,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field with 5+ years of departmental experience requiring merchandising or management.
• Proven buying/negotiating experience and vendor management capabilities.
• Strong proficiency in Excel/Office and ability to read P/L statements and margins.
• Ability to work under strict deadlines and travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead category strategies and partnerships to improve market share within Grocery.
• Negotiate vendor agreements and manage procurement lifecycle from selection to payment authorization.
• Lead cross-functional teams to ensure product quality, pricing, and promotional plans align with Sprouts standards.
• Mentor and coach ACM and Merchandising Specialist to drive department performance and career growth.

Skills

Negotiation

Strategic planning

Financial analysis

Communication skills

Confidentiality

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or related field

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 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.

#LI-CS1

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.