Director, Category Strategy

About the role

The Director, Category Strategy leads the Category Strategy team and serves as the primary business owner for Sprouts Brand categories. This role is responsible for developing and executing category strategies that drive sales growth, profitability, competitive differentiation, customer loyalty, and long-term business performance.

The Director partners closely with Merchandising, Supply Chain, Store Operations, Product Development, Brand, Packaging, Quality, and supplier partners to identify growth opportunities, improve category productivity, identify and implement COGS savings opportunities, optimize assortments, strengthen supplier partnerships, and accelerate speed to market. This leader owns the commercial strategy for Sprouts Brand categories, including category planning, assortment optimization, supplier management, commercialization, operational effectiveness, and near-term innovation.

The role is accountable for identifying category opportunities in conjunction with the Merchandising Category management teams and partnering with the Product Development team to bring more complex and differentiated innovations to market. This position is located at the Store Support Office in Phoenix, Arizona, and operates on a hybrid schedule (in office Tuesday - Thursday).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the strategic vision, operating plans, and growth agenda for the Sprouts Brand portfolio, ensuring alignment with enterprise objectives and long-term business goals.
• Lead category strategy and portfolio planning to drive Sprouts Brand sales growth, gross profit expansion, category penetration, customer loyalty, and competitive advantage.
• Partner with senior leaders across Merchandising, Product Development, Supply Chain, Operations, Brand, and Quality to establish category priorities and deliver business results.
• Own category portfolio performance, leveraging market intelligence, customer insights, competitive analysis, and financial metrics to identify growth opportunities, mitigate risks, and optimize performance.
• Establish and govern category performance metrics, operating reviews, and business planning processes to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Direct innovation roadmaps and commercialization strategies, prioritizing opportunities that accelerate growth, strengthen brand differentiation, and expand market share.
• Build and lead strategic supplier relationships, sourcing strategies, and external partnerships that enhance innovation capabilities, operational effectiveness, and speed to market.
• Drive financial performance through margin enhancement, cost optimization, sourcing strategies, and productivity initiatives while balancing customer value and business sustainability.
• Champion cross-functional execution and go-to-market excellence, ensuring successful product launches, operational readiness, inventory health, and in-store execution.
• Influence enterprise-level decisions through strategic recommendations, business case development, and executive-level communication of category opportunities, risks, and performance.
• Lead, develop, and scale a high-performing Category Strategy organization, including talent development, succession planning, capability building, and workforce planning.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, customer focus, and operational excellence while strengthening organizational capabilities and future leadership.

Qualifications

• Preferred bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of progressive experience in category management, merchandising, private brand, or related functions.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams, developing talent, and leading cross-functional business initiatives.
• Experience in merchandising and category management with relevant experience in product development or merchandising with product knowledge preferred.
• Demonstrated success developing and commercializing innovative consumer products and driving measurable business growth is beneficial.
• Experience presenting strategic recommendations and business performance updates to senior and executive leadership teams.
• Requires long-term strategic and financial planning skills.
• Ability to preserve confidentiality of information, communicate with all levels of management, and work within strict time frames and resolute deadlines.
• Complete understanding of P&L statements, general ledgers, and margins.
• Thorough understanding of the Microsoft Office suite.
• Some travel required.

Benefits

• Competitive pay.
• Sick time plan that you can use to support you or your immediate family’s health.
• Vacation accrual plan.
• Opportunities for career growth.
• 15% discount for you and one other family member in your household on all purchases made at Sprouts.
• Flexible schedules.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• 401(K) Retirement savings plan with a generous company match.
• Company-paid life insurance.
• Contests and appreciation events throughout the year full of prizes, food, and fun.

Eligibility requirements may apply for the following benefits:

• Bonus based on company and/or individual performance.
• Affordable benefit coverage, including medical, dental, and vision.
• Health Savings Account with company match.
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care.
• Company-paid short-term disability coverage.
• Paid parental leave for both mothers and fathers.
• Paid holidays.

Sprouts Farmers Market offers DailyPay, allowing eligible employees to transfer earned money at no extra cost and receive it the next business day.