COP Category Manager

Brief Role Description:

• Responsible for driving profitable sales growth of the Center of the Plate categories, Beef, Pork, Poultry & Seafood within a region
• Collaborates cross functionally (Sales, Supply Chain, Revenue Management) and across entities (Market, Corporate, Specialty)
• Category expert that provides training, product information, regulatory guidance, and market cost guidance to internal and external customers in support of the center of the plate category.

PRIMARY AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Category Strategy
  • Align with SSMG teams to execute strategies
  • Identify business development opportunities, coordinate with sales teams (leaders, specialists, sales consultants) to propose new business
  • Compliance with SSMG standard assortment and on-going assortment related opportunities
  • Analyze data and market insights to understand consumer needs and wants
  • Research competitors and suggest appropriate pricing
    • Manage site specific market cost decisions on a weekly basis
    • Collaborating with Regional Revenue Management Director and Regional VP of Merch, utilize available contract programs and resources to provide customer specific pricing for key Regional customers.
  • Communicating with corporate led beef replenishment teams about products and strategies
  • Provide field feedback on strategies including advising on marketing materials to improve sales
• Provide planning team with forecasts for product demand trends
  • Coordinating new customer on boarding activities
  • Addressing the needs and concerns of key TRS/CMU/LCC customer contacts within the Region
• Assortment Management
  • Providing product assortment and SKU rationalization recommendations that are aligned with your Region demand.
  • Ensure product availability
  • Design exit strategies for unsuccessful products
• Category Training
  • Providing SC support through business reviews, customer insight encounters with targeted training and education.
  • Schedule and manage category sales training of Sales Consultants.
  • Provide timely and effective communication with Sales force including but not limited to market conditions, product quality and availability, new items and applications.
• Product Quality/Quality control
  • Develop and monitor SOPs ensuring that pick locations are checked daily.
  • Collaborating with Operations and Food Safety teams
  • Maintain accountability with Operations leadership to ensure aging specifications are being adhered to on boxed beef assortment.
  • Works with inventory control to manage expiration dating through SWMS reports.
• Mitigate Expense/Shrink
  • Works with inventory control to manage expiration dating through SWMS reports.
  • Works closely with Quality Assurance lead(s) and in conjunction with Operations and Transportation Management
  • Establish and maintain accountability that all inbound product is inspected thoroughly
  • Collaborate with QA and Product Support Advisors to ensure quality and integrity of all inbound and outbound Center of the Plate products
  • Support region adherence to HAACP and other regulatory guidelines

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in lieu of degree sufficient to successfully perform essential job functions required. Master’s degree a plus.
• 3+ years management/professional experience required (5+ years preferred). Significant produce industry experience, sales, merchandising and/or operations experience within a retail, wholesale or distribution environment preferred.
• Strong written & verbal communications skills required
• Strong excel skills preferred
• Ability to manage & implement innovative strategies to maximize sales & gross profit potential while driving customer loyalty & MA engagement

Skills:

• Ability to build high performing teams and enable best practice sharing and support culture
• Ability to motivate high-performing teams & enable a culture of best practices
• Ability to manage conflict and reach quick resolution with facts and dialogue
• Ability to work cross functionally and build relationships across the organization/enterprise
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals of different backgrounds
• Collaborative change leader who uses multiple influencing styles to drive change
• Analytical thinker who can draw sound business conclusions based on a strong fact base
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment