National Category Lead

The National Category Director will report to the National Category Vice President (and up through the Senior Vice President of Merchandising) and will be responsible for developing and managing merchandising strategy for a given category(s). As a Category Director, you will serve as the leader of a category pod, a team made up of merchants from each division with whom you will collaborate and lead merchandising planning activities for your assigned category(s). This is a significant opportunity to make a difference in retail transformation at scale. As the leader of your category pod, you will work closely with national and division merchandising single leadership to determine category strategies. You will develop deep category expertise, including understanding of category trends, innovations, consumer preferences, nuances by geography and customer segments, and competitor activity. You will negotiate with national suppliers on behalf of the divisions. The position will be in our national headquarters (Boise, ID). Some travel will be required to interact with division merchandising teams and national suppliers. Main Responsibilities Category Management – Strategically manage category(s) to meet sales, profit, and market share targets at the national and division level. Create and implement category strategy, pricing strategy, promotional strategy, and assortment strategy for each assigned category, based on a detailed and analytically driven planning process, relying on significant collaboration with divisions and functional leaders. Lead the merchandising planning process with national and division merchants within the category pod to maximize category performance across all of Albertsons and within each division. Serve as the company’s Subject Matter Expert (SME) for assigned category(s). Research category trends, innovations, competitors, and regional preferences. Make critical decisions for the category while working with division leads and functional teams to consider division nuances and drive to the right answer. Supplier Relationships / Negotiations – Conduct all company-wide negotiations with suppliers of assigned categories, including cost, assortment, funding, and replenishment & contract terms, taking into consideration division inputs and commitments. Act as the primary contact for all vendors in assigned categories. Meet with vendors on a consistent basis for deal negotiation and business updates. Attend key vendor meetings. Develop supplier joint business plans by leveraging the scale of the organization to achieve the best possible cost of goods. Evaluate supplier performance, working with divisions and procurement team as needed. Communicate negotiations outcomes to divisions to enable them to plan and execute promotional events and local ads. Data & Analytics – Leverage data to drive all decision‑making. Maintain weekly, quarterly, and yearly scorecards to track sales, profit, and market share of each category. Oversee the utilization of merchant tools to conduct category data analysis. Work closely with functional team members and division merchants to collect and synthesize inputs (e.g., division promotional funding, local assortment considerations, Own Brands considerations, eCommerce strategy, and competitor benchmarking sets) to be used during the merchandising planning process. Manage and maximize category(s) promotional plans to achieve the most efficient use of vendor dollars for every division. Create sales and profit projections at the category level. Conduct in‑depth post‑promotional analysis at the item and category level in preparation for the next promotional plan. Use critical thinking and problem‑solving skills to recognize and anticipate issues and opportunities. Elevate analyses beyond reporting and translate insight into retail action. Collaboration – Lead the category(s) pod with Division ASMs and functional business units. Understand division needs and commitments and integrate these into the overall category plan. Work with multiple internal cross‑functional teams to connect business opportunities and develop both strategic and tactical solutions. Cultivate team morale, motivation, and loyalty through continuous training and mentorship, setting obtainable performance goals and providing clear communication and constructive feedback. Diversity & Inclusion – Develop an approach that considers associates and leaders from across the organization and draws diverse perspectives into the design recommendation. Foster a diverse and inclusive team and work environment and role‑model our culture and leadership practices. Talent Management – Demonstrate effective leadership skills and abilities. Develop professional materials and opportunities, including unique experiences and well‑designed programs, to train and retain merchandising talent and drive category expertise. Apply knowledge of leadership competency frameworks and a variety of proven practices, tools, and techniques that help leaders develop in their jobs. Qualifications & Experience Field or relevant business experience where a solid understanding of marketing, merchandising, consumer research, and financial management practices has been gained. Excellent understanding of store operations, merchandising methodologies and practices, and P&L and financial management. Strong quantitative, marketing, merchandising, and consumer research background to read, interpret, and understand how internal and external factors influence financial results. Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills and experience in taking initiative and making decisive yet appropriate decisions. Strong planning, facilitating, and organizing skills. Strong written and verbal communication skills as well as excellent interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective relationships within and outside the company. Strategy development skills. Proven track record of being a strong negotiator. Skilled in Category Business Planning. Able to effectively lead a collaborative process with multiple stakeholders. Understanding of procurement, logistics, and inventory management. 5–10 plus years retail merchandising/category management and operations experience. 3–5 plus years Division and/or National level retail operations, merchandising/category, marketing, and finance experience. Experienced with successfully leading large‑scale projects across multiple retail locations. Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience with a related degree in Business, Marketing, or related field. Demonstrated success record in collaborating with multiple functional areas to achieve overall company goals (e.g., Divisions, Senior Leadership, Procurement, Vendor Partners). Proven leadership and ability to lead by influencing others without direct authority, both formally and informally. Ability to create an environment that fosters learning, teaching, growth, risk‑taking, and innovation. Balances the needs of multiple stakeholders while maintaining strong executive‑level partnerships. Highly self‑motivated and self‑learner that assumes personal accountability for results and performance with a passion for lifelong learning and personal development. Demonstrated track record as a proactive trusted advisor/leader in an organization, particularly around strategic issues to drive results. Ability to implement innovative plans in reaction to a range of business and consumer challenges and to sell these programs to our Division Management Teams. Up to 40% travel depending on location. Preferred Skills & Qualifications Proficiency with merchandising tools (e.g., Periscope, Demand Tech, I2E, BI Dashboards, GOLD, OMNI, IRI, Nielsen, Mintel). Advanced degree (e.g., MBA). Benefits Competitive wages paid weekly. Access to up to 50% of your earned wages before payday, via our partnership with Stream. Associate discounts. Health and financial well‑being benefits for eligible associates (Medical, Dental, 401(k) and more). Time off (vacation, holidays, sick pay). Leaders invested in your training, career growth, and development. An inclusive work environment with talented colleagues who reflect the communities we serve. Company Values ACI Values A copy of the full job description can be made available to you. #J-18808-Ljbffr