Category Management Specialist

The Category Management Specialist develops and optimizes the overall strategy for assigned product categories and researches new product options to drive sales and achieve targets. This position works closely with other departments to determine optimal pricing through analysis of trends, competitors, buying habits, sales and merchandising of products to promote sales that align with strategies. The Category Management Specialist provides support in areas such as training, knowledge transfer and procedure adherence to increase the quality, value and availability of products that are brought to La Montañita Food Cooperative locations. This position assists with developing the strategic vision and oversight, creating and analyzing statistical reports and providing informational resource support as needed enhance the La Montañita Food Cooperative’s successful functioning and development of its category products.

SOME ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Identifies the product mixes to be carried at each location for the assigned categories.
• Identifies price points for items to help achieve ideal margin for the subcategory.
• Regularly reviews the product mix and removes slow movers after a period of time (currently 6 months) or sooner.
• Makes data driven decisions to optimize product mix and use of shelf space.
• Works with suppliers, NCG and SPINS data to identify new items to bring in. Serves as point of contact.
• Develops planograms for each store in conjunction with local team leaders and ensures implementation.
• Establishes minimum on hand quantities for each product for store replenishment buying.
• Utilizes the 4 P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion to effectively use the retail space available.
• Works closely with department team leaders to select items, merchandise, meet community specific product selection.
• Understands all invoices, reports, and audits to assist in maintaining a clean item file for assigned departments.
• Works with the data management team, buyers and other key team members, as needed, to fix miss-rings, data entry requests, or problems in the database.
• Works closely with the Information Technology, Marketing, and Membership (and other identified key departments) to help maintain the Catapult database.
• Processes reports daily, monthly, and yearly for La Montañita as needed from Catapult (or other identified resources)
• Creates and maintains weekly, monthly, and special sales for all store locations for assigned categories.
• Participates, coordinates and attends meetings, provides support, and gathers needed information relating to category management objectives, goals and operating guidelines.
• Ensures that activities are closely tracked to identify what is and is not working and why, and adjusts work plans as needed in response to learning to achieve deliverables defined.
• Visits La Montañita Co-op locations frequently to establish and build rapport with key team members.
• Visits suppliers within assigned categories as needed and directed to establish and build relationships to ensure quality and standards are being followed.
• Analyzes performance of promotions, sales and merchandising efforts in assigned categories.

ATTRIBUTES AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• College degree, or appropriate work experience to demonstrate capacity to fulfill the requirements of the position.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience with product databases management for grocery stores and one (1) year team leadership experience.
• Experience and knowledge in setting pricing, buying, administering promotions, and vendor relations.
• Cross-category retail grocery knowledge and industry expertise.
• Excellent interpersonal, motivational, team building, and customer relationship skills.
• Proficient mathematical skills for assessing financial performance, monitoring profitability, and managing inventory.
• Demonstrates decision-making ability, leadership skills, and ability to prioritize and delegate.
• Proficiency with email, Microsoft Office, and operations-related applications (Catapult point of sale software).
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills and able to communicate with individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Effectively present information in one-to-one and small group situations to customers and other employees.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow complex written and verbal instructions.
• Able to adhere and follow safety and wellness guidelines. Safety conscious and adhering to required PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is required.
• Advanced knowledge of regulatory and safety policies and procedures.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent ability to multi-task and prioritize in a busy, fast-growth environment.