Produce Category Manager

Brief Role Description:

• Responsible for driving profitable sales growth of the produce category 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 produce category.

PRIMARY AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Category Strategy

• Align with SMS Produce teams to execute strategies
• Identify category development opportunities, coordinate with sales teams (leaders, specialists, sales consultants) to propose new business
• Ensuring expected compliance and proper support of SMS Produce and Freshpoint.
• 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
• 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 CMU/LCC 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
• Work cross-functionally with QA and Operations to generate PDN’s – ensure accuracy, timely completion, and submission. Ensure resulting claims are tracked and settled appropriately

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 Category 11 products
• Manage market adherence to GAP/GMP Compliance

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