Assistant Category Manager

At Food Lion, Associates are the most important assets to our organization. We want associates to have meaningful careers full of variety and challenges. Each associate contributes to the overall success of Food Lion, and in return, we strive to provide all associates with a fulfilling work experience and reward performance and commitment. We are committed to the professional development of our associates through on-the-job learning opportunities and training.

Position Summary  

Responsible for producing a comprehensive and cohesive category strategy which successfully meets the needs of our customers and achieves category goals while supporting brand integrated business plans. Drive the day to day activities of a selling organization culture with a consumer-centric focus through Category, Merchandising and Pricing (CMP) responsibilities. Responsible for thought leadership and category expertise around trends and category innovation. 

Principle Duties and Responsibilities  

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  Manages performance for assigned category including margin and shrink 

  
  


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  Responsible for all category financial & customer metrics  

  
  


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  Responsible for procurement and replenishment (Fresh) and in stock position at the shelf (Center Store)  [Service levels, inventory/days on hand, forecasting and seasonal impacts)  

  
  


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  Responsible for talent planning, team development and performance management 

  
  

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  Develops and executes customer-focused category plans and drives a selling culture 

  
  


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  Manages pricing for assigned categories and influences pricing strategy 

  
  


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  Subject matter expert for assigned categories 

  
  


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  Manages assortment and selection for assigned categories (f.e. final approval for all POG decisions) 

  
  


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  Drives product innovation 

  
  

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  Vendor negotiation and relationships 

  
  


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  Develops and builds strong teams  

  
  

Basic Qualifications  

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  Extensive knowledge of applicable practice areas, i.e., Fresh or Center Store categories.  

  
  

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  Fresh Categories include, but are not limited to:  Produce, Meat/Seafood, HMS/Deli/Bakery 

  
  

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  Center Store Categories are considered any category not listed in Fresh above 

  
  

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  Strong financial planning and budgeting experience 

  
  


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  Cross-functional leadership experience with a demonstrated ability to build cross-functional teams 

  
  


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  Demonstrated management expertise  

  
  


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  Demonstrated relationship management experience with vendors, brokers and third party consultants 

  
  

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  Seasoned level of knowledge for company, business and industry practices 

  
  

Preferred Qualifications  

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  Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA) 

  
  


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  Experience leading during organizational change management 

  
  


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  Demonstrated track record of developing others 

  
  

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  Knowledge of merchandising management, retail management, replenishment and item management systems 

  
  


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  Fresh Category Management specific: 

  
  

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  Proficiency with Logistics as it plays a critical role with short shelf life products 

  
  


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  Proficiency with commissary operations and processes 

  
  


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  Expert in food preparation practices and overall food safety standards 

  
  

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  Knowledge of local and state governmental impacts to selling fresh product (FDA, USDA, Weights/Measures, etc.) 

  
  

Education 

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  Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of education and related work experience. 

  
  

Experience  

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  5 - 8 years in Category Management 

  
  

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  Minimum of 8 years combined experience in retail, merchandising, pricing, logistics, supply chain, procurement, or distribution 

  
  

Skills and Abilities  

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  Ability to manage day to day activity in support of identified business area and functional area strategies 

  
  


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  Ability to influence organizational alignment across multiple business areas 

  
  


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  Ability to take an educated risk with implementing programs that support consumer demands. 

  
  

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  Ability to negotiate 

  
  


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  Ability to think innovatively 

  
  


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  Demonstrate a personal acceptance of change and the ability to adapt and drive change 

  
  


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  Demonstrated ability to implement and analyze retail business using consumer insights and analyzing trends. 

  
  


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  Active listener with an ability to build trust across varying levels of the organization 

  
  

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  High degree of credibility and the ability to work with and through all levels of management 

  
  


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  Excellent organizational, planning, influence, communication and presentation skills 

  
  


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  Self-motivated and persuasive in presenting and selling ideas and executing their implementation 

  
  

Travel 

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  Typically, 8 - 12% 

  
  

Food Lion provides equal employment opportunities to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions) national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity or gender expression or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you have a disability and require assistance in the application process, please contact our Recruiting Department at [email protected]