Category Operations Manager – Grocery

Category Operations Manager – Grocery

Requirements

• Four-year college degree in business or related field, or equivalent field experience required.
• Minimum 7 years category management experience required, with some project management experience preferred, ideally this experience will derive from the food service or food manufacturing industries.
• Must possess the ability to operate successfully within a matrix organization, working effectively with multiple groups.
• Must be able to work in a team setting, drive organizational transformations and support change management within the organization.
• Must be self-directed and highly motivated, possessing a strong business acumen, sound interpersonal skills, and excellent presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel required; working knowledge of PowerPoint is required.

Responsibilities

• In coordination with Regional Team, develop implementation plan for category and operational strategy customized for multiple Distribution Centers.
• Ensure implementation is in alignment with overall US Foods category strategy and goals, as defined by Region & Area.
• Effectively work with Regional Director and Sourcing Team to execute the National, Regional and Market initiatives to grow cases and increase profitability.
• Responsible to report weekly and monthly on key metrics that impact the financial performance of the Area.
• Responsible for Area product assortment.
• Review assortment and gauge product penetration, noting slow or dead SKUs.
• Request exception SKUs, determine DWOs, and create conversion plans.
• Ensure Area product assortment is in alignment with US Foods category strategy and work to reduce SKU duplication.
• Responsible for gathering local market data (including trends) through feedback and intelligence from culinary team, sales staff, specialists, and vendor partners.
• Report new product opportunities and provide data on competitors.
• Align Rosemont pricing recommendations and market intelligence with Area strategy in partnership with Area Pricing manager.
• Responsible for managing the quality assurance team to ensure quality, by maintaining load quality integrity, conducting quality inspections and providing feedback to vendors.
• Partner with Operations to develop strategy that ensure quality and integrity.
• Ensure weekly communication with Specialists, Sellers, and QA.
• Facilitate product training and new product introductions, with DSS, Specialists and sales staff.
• Ensure product/brand message is in alignment with overall USF strategy.
• Work closely with the Specialist, and culinary team, conducting planning meetings to identify accounts and categories and their potential opportunities.
• Work with sellers and specialists to develop customer programs.
• Support and facilitate all FSQA inquiries for the assigned Area through appropriate procedures and work closely with the Region team on any national or regional vendor issues.
• Support major Area-specific account bids through thorough analysis, coordinate customer on-boarding, and keep sales staff informed of ongoing category strategy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Some project management experience preferred, ideally this experience will derive from the food service or food manufacturing industries.