Sr Manager, Category - Grocery

Pilot Company; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan

Dental/Vision

401(k)

Fuel discount

Adoption assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Onsite gym

Job summary

Pilot Company in Knoxville, TN seeks a senior grocery leader to drive strategic direction, P&L ownership, and operational excellence across 650+ stores and 42 states. You will guide category vision, supplier partnerships, pricing, and growth initiatives while collaborating with Marketing, Finance, Operations, Legal, and Supply Chain to deliver enterprise objectives.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years in merchandising leadership, a Bachelor's degree or equivalent, and a proven track record of

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent required.
• Experience in retail grocery or merchandising preferred.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Leads a $400M Grocery business across 650+ stores, 42 states, and multiple category groups; manages P&L and drives growth initiatives.
• Develops and mentors professional teams; sets goals, provides coaching, and ensures succession planning.
• Contributes to merchandising strategy through annual and multi-year business plans, pricing, promotions, assortment, and inventory optimization.
• Leads supplier and distribution partnerships with 110+ suppliers to drive ongoing performance and efficiencies.
• Works with Marketing, Loyalty, Finance, Operations, Legal and Supply Chain to meet departmental and enterprise goals; resolves merchandising and regulatory challenges.

Education

Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent

Job description

Company Description

Pilot Company is an industry-leading network of travel centers with more than 30,000 team members and over 750 retail and fueling locations in 43 states and six Canadian provinces. Our energy and logistics division serves as a top supplier of fuel, employing one of the largest tanker fleets and providing critical services to oil operations in our nation's busiest basins. Pilot Company supports a growing portfolio of brands with expertise in supply chain and retail operations, logistics and transportation, technology and digital innovation, construction, maintenance, human resources, finance, sales and marketing.

Founded in 1958 by Jim A. Haslam II and currently led by CEO Adam Wright, our founding values, people-first culture and commitment to giving back remains true to us today. Whether we are serving guests, a fellow team member, or a trucking company, we are dedicated to fueling people and keeping North America moving.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Military encouraged to apply.

Job Description

Responsible for establishing and executing the strategic direction, financial performance, and operational excellence of a $400M Grocery business spanning 650+ stores across 42 states. Provides leadership across multiple related category groups while managing professional team members and contributing to departmental merchandising strategy, departmental business plans, and long-range growth initiatives. This role owns category vision, P&L performance, supplier strategy, and executional excellence while driving sustained sales growth, profitability, customer engagement, and operational effectiveness. Serves as the primary internal and external leader for grocery-related initiatives, partnering with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver departmental and enterprise objectives. Applies advanced business and merchandising expertise to identify opportunities, resolve complex business challenges, and maximize category and department performance.

Essential Job Functions

• Leads a $400M Grocery business across 650+ stores in 42 states, overseeing multiple related category groups including Salty Snacks, Candy, Meat Snacks, Cookie/Cracker/Nutrition, Health Beauty & Analgesics, Pastry, Ice Cream, Shelf-Stable Food, and Non-Food categories. Maintains full accountability for P&L performance, budgeting, forecasting, inventory investment, and strategic growth initiatives that drive departmental sales, profitability, and market share.
• Manages and develops multiple professional team members and related functional workgroups, providing leadership through goal setting, performance management, coaching, talent development, succession planning, and alignment of departmental objectives while fostering a culture consistent with company purpose and values.
• Contributes to departmental merchandising strategy through development and execution of annual and multi-year business plans, including sales and gross profit objectives, pricing strategies, promotional programs, inventory optimization, assortment planning, and identification of growth opportunities that maximize business performance.
• Leads strategic supplier and distribution partnerships, influencing business decisions and negotiating category initiatives, space allocations, and growth opportunities with 110+ suppliers and multiple distributors to drive mutual business performance and operational excellence.
• Serves as the primary merchandising representative to major global CPG organizations, influencing internal and external stakeholders through cross-functional leadership with Marketing, Loyalty, Finance, Operations, Legal, and Supply Chain to achieve departmental and enterprise goals.
• Directs resolution of complex merchandising, operational, and regulatory challenges while ensuring execution of category strategies, compliance with applicable regulations, accurate management of promotional funding, and successful implementation of grocery initiatives across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent
• At least 8 Years' Experience

Additional Information

• Nation-wide Medical Plan/Dental/Vision
• 401(k) and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Fuel Discount
• Adoption Assistance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Onsite Gym and Cafeteria
• Weekly Pay

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines