Senior Manager Product Business

United Natural Foods, Inc.; Providence (RI); Remote; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Sick Time

401K Program

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Job summary

United Natural Foods, Inc. seeks a strategic Director of Private Brand Management to lead a team, drive cross-functional collaboration, and shape merchandising across categories.

This remote role emphasizes partnerships with Marketing, Packaging, QA, and Product Development to innovate and optimize product offerings. The ideal candidate will bring 5+ years in category management, 8+ years in new product development, and a track record of leading large teams and influencing stakeholders to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing, Management or related field preferred. MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Private Brand Managers.
• Motivate, coach, and develop team members to high performance.
• Provide strategic updates to leadership to identify opportunities.
• Build relations with National and Regional Merchandising teams.
• Set and oversee promotional and pricing strategies for categories.
• Develop annual and quarterly merchandising and category business plans.
• Launch new products and enhance existing offerings with cross-functional partners.
• Lead category workshops and supplier collaboration initiatives.
• Drive cost efficiency and process improvements across merchandising activities.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Negotiation

Category management

Sourcing

Pricing strategy

Financial acumen

Data analysis

Excel

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business/Marketing/Management

MBA preferred

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Job Overview:

Leads team of Private Brand Managers. Responsible for driving efficiencies across the organization. Accountable for all phases of strategic merchandising planning. Brings innovation and industry leading change to assigned categories.

Develop a consumer-centric business model by interacting at the broadest level with PBMs of other categories to drive efficiencies across the organization. Has the ability to lead and influence, to enable them to successfully work cross-functionally with stakeholder partners. Establishes priorities, defines and refines assortment and presentation, and sets pricing guidelines and tactics.

Job Responsibilities:

Core Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Private Brand Managers, ensuring strong execution.
• Motivate, coach, and develop team members to build a knowledgeable, high‑performing, and responsive organization.
• Provide timely, strategic updates to the Director of Product Business Management to identify and advance business opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with National and Regional Merchandising.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Regional Merchandising teams.
• Lead semester planning and manage cost change processes.
• Set and oversee the promotional strategy for assigned categories and review the consolidated promotional plans across the team.
• Develop annual and quarterly merchandising strategies based on performance trends, consumer insights, and competitive analysis.
• Recommend pricing strategies and shelving placement that maximize category performance.
• Analyze and maintain a deep understanding of product cost structures to support effective financial and sourcing decisions.
• Develop and execute category strategies and initiatives that support overall business goals.
• Review full category assortments and development plans to ensure strategic fit and performance.
• Lead the development of Category Business Plans (CBP) and facilitate category workshops.
• Build consumer‑integrated business plans in partnership with vendors to drive growth and innovation.
• Identify, recommend, and present optimal sources of supply and vendor selections for approval.
• Oversee the full product lifecycle for items within the assigned Private Brands portfolio.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Marketing, Packaging, Quality Assurance, and Product Development to launch new products and enhance existing offerings.
• Partner with the National Category Manager to evaluate product lines and new item proposals.
• Design and execute audits to ensure accuracy and compliance across processes.
• Continuously improve processes and workflows to drive efficiency and elevate performance.
• Deliver on period, quarterly, and annual financial forecasts.
• Drive industry differentiation by developing new products, programs, and processes.
• Monitor competitive activity and adjust category tactics accordingly.
• Set, manage, and communicate quarterly sales targets for each category.
• Use category scorecards and consumer insights to identify trends and ensure alignment to sales and profitability goals.
• Define and assign category rules to ensure consistent execution across the team.

Additional Responsibilities

• Provides directions to pricing specialist for price changes
• Establish strategic relations with key suppliers that lead to new consumer and industry insights
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned to support department and organizational goals.

Job Requirements:

Education/ Certifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required in Business, Marketing, Management or related field preferred. MBA preferred

Experience:

• 5 + years of category management experience preferred
• 8 + years of new product development experience preferred
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to work with key stakeholders in organization to drive business results
• Has an in-depth understanding of store operations and merchandising methodologies and practices (P&L, financial management, etc.), greater depth of specific category expertise may be required on a case‑by‑case basis

Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities

• Strong negotiation skills with experience in category management, sourcing, private label, or CPG.
• Understanding of assortment planning and category management.
• Ability to lead cross functional partners including Commercialization (end to end process).
• Project Management skills and strong attention to details.
• Demonstrates the ability to think analytically and solve problems through data.
• Ability to influence others, negotiate, and collaborate.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
• Excellent spreadsheet skills (Excel) are required.
• Must be capable of understanding the retail environment.
• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.

Work Environment:

• This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.
• This position may require the associate to travel to company offices, distribution centers, or other locations for specific meetings or other business reasons.

Physical Environment/Demands:

• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment in the course of a normal workday.
• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.

UNFI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other protected ground. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the job selection process. - Veteran/Disability. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Compensation:

UNFI anticipates paying the above-referenced pay rate (or within the above-referenced pay range) for this position. Actual Pay, where applicable, will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements. UNFI is committed to transparency in pay in compliance with applicable state and local laws.

Benefits:

For Washington positions (or positions that may be performed remotely from Washington), https://www.unfi.com/jobs-more-info-wa.html for Washington-specific paid time off details.

• Paid Time Off
• Sick Time
• paid holidays and parental leave
• 401K Program
• medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death/dismemberment insurance
• short-term and long-term disability insurance program, Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Savings Account, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of these programs, and subject to any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements.

UNFI’s compensation, benefits, and paid time off policies are subject to change in the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with applicable law. This job posting should not be construed as an offer of employment with certain terms, nor should it be construed as a guaranteed minimum.

Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act.