Area Category Manager - COP

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop implementation plan for category strategy customized for multiple Distribution Centers.
• Ensure implementation is in alignment with overall US Foods category strategy and goals and defined Area needs.
• Review assigned Area product assortment and gauge product penetration, noting slow or dead SKUs as well as growth opportunities.
• Responsible for profitable sales growth within assigned categories for their Area.
• Request exception SKUs, as needed, to finalize Area assortment, determine DWOs, and create conversion plans.
• Ensure Area product assortment is in alignment with US Foods category strategy and work to reduce SKU duplication.
• Ensure all local customer needs are met and are aligned with the national strategies.
• Maintain lead role in consistently gathering local market data for multiple DCs in assigned Area (including trends) through feedback and intelligence from culinary team, sales staff, and vendor partners.
• Report new product opportunities and provide data on competitors.
• Finalize Area assortment and core complement and exception SKUs.
• 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 culinary team, conducting planning meetings to identify accounts and categories and their potential opportunities.
• 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.

Qualifications

• 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 able to provide fact-based recommendations across a variety of management levels resulting in buy-in and improvement in category performance.
• 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, working knowledge of Microsoft Access a plus.

Pay

Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state or local minimum wage thresholds).

The expected base rate for this role is between $85,000 - $135,000.