Director, Merchandising

Position Overview

Description

Strategy Implementation/Plan of Action: Execute plans and initiatives to achieve set goals and strategic direction for the merchandising function. Responsible to lead merchandising teams with Customer first mindset and ensure regional needs and selling opportunities are fully embedded in strategies and target setting. Drive strategic negotiations with external vendors to build portfolio share. Build long term strategic relationships with suppliers and manufacturers. Execute category planning process across assigned product portfolio of responsibility, including development and implementation of category plans; leveraging insights in order to formulate key strategies and category initiatives to achieve incremental sales and margin growth. Responsible to negotiate cost, assortment, and promotional strategies reflective of assigned regional Independent customer needs.

Financial Management: Manage a full P&L, including planning, forecasting and driving growth for assigned category(ies), possessing a complete understanding of internal and external variables that impact the business. Perform monthly verification of plans and provide explanation for variances in budgeted sales/gross profit & other metrics as well as provide projections for upcoming month. Accountable for the strategic development, planning, costing, execution and financial performance for assigned categories across the total business. Develop plans to close gaps and improve sale /margin performance year on year. Review competitive cost and pricing information and lead negotiations with vendors/brokers for best cost and targeted margin performance for assigned regions.

Oversight & Execution

Implement strategies to drive business improvements, innovation, and scale within the category and across the Independent Retail business. Identify industry trends relevant to customer selection and experience leveraging competitive insights and internal and external benchmarks and syndicated data. Collaborate on Sales, Marketing and Merchandising initiatives with Promotional Planning mgrs. And Commercial team to ensure regional needs including seasonal selling and local events are included in overall strategy and vendor negotiations. Innovate and implement new customer and vendor programs. Share market intelligence, best practices and provide category expertise to improve cost, drive efficiencies and minimize potential supply chain risks. Provide direction/management of all assigned categories in the areas of cost, assortment, and promotional strategies. Proactively assess and manage commodity market risk to the organization. Negotiate terms & conditions consistent with corporate objectives, standards and ethics, while delivering best overall value. Perform SKU rationalization of categories and work with suppliers to continually offer the right assortment to customers. Collaborate with Category Merchandising to validate assortment and ensure new items, promoted items and best fit the retail environment and across each region and ensure best placement in POG's. Meet with Regional Customers to understand perspectives on product, placement, price and promotion from Independent customers and their shoppers. Work with Marketing Department or Advertising/Promotions to drive incremental sales and margin for assigned portfolio.

Vendor Management

Identify leverage opportunities and interact with procurement to negotiate contracts, supply agreements and/or programs to achieve the lowest possible acquisition costs (cost of goods) for products. Review solicitations from potential suppliers to determine if potential product and relationship is beneficial for the company considering lowest cost, quality and ability to meet demand and promotional needs for Independent retail business. Ensure efficient item assortment as well as manage supplier in stock concerns and aged inventory exit strategies. Lead teams and act as subject matter expert to support regional customer needs for cost, pricing and promotional strategies. Review and work with Buying & Transportation groups and manufacturers to resolve out-of-stock issues.

Management, Coaching & Leadership

Develop team members within your area. Create success through development of personnel. Work with Vice President to develop near, mid and long term organizational structure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree - Business
• 10-15 years of experience. 10\+ years of negotiation and vendor management, in one or more large category(s), hiring and managing teams.
• 5\+ years of relevant leadership experience in the food or grocery industry