Category Manager

Description

Position Summary:

As an industry leader in wholesale, retail, and residential food distribution, Baldor Specialty Foods continues to grow and evolve at a rapid pace across all departments. We are looking for an energetic, experienced, team-oriented Category Manager who will help lead the strategic and tactical merchandising plan to meet and exceed category sales and profit objectives. The Category Manager will be responsible for developing positive working relationships with our vendor community, maintaining a high level of product knowledge for assigned categories, and interacting daily with Sales, Operations, Marketing, Merchandising, and Finance. The Category Manager will oversee the daily operation of category functions, including weekly, monthly, and annual promotional plans, product assortment and placement, shelf allocation, and costs to drive sales and gross profit margin.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Deliver a vision that supports the growth of Value-Added products across multiple categories working with the merchandise team.
• Development of commodity expertise with a deep understanding of market dynamics, helping identify both risk and opportunity and any potential cost savings opportunities.
• Support the performance of the planning team to ensure that assigned category management strategic objectives are met including inventory and service levels for assigned categories.
• Develop an annual operating plan for the assigned category that includes analysis of the area of responsibility, and supporting promotional programs as needed to launch and innovate the product mix.
• Weekly and monthly reviews on key metrics that impact on the financial performance of the category.
• Develop and manage communication to Merchandise Sales Operations support team for all selling programs and category management initiatives.
• Ability to analyze complex supplier proposals and use decision-making tools and models, including financial and non-financial criteria, to facilitate award recommendations.
• Management of overall supplier relationships including supplier performance, capability development, cost, and quality improvements.
• Ability to identify and implement Total Cost of Ownership approach to cost savings and process improvement measures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or 3-5 years of equivalent experience in F&B Distribution or Production or related field
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in ERP/MRP system (Dynamics365 a plus)
• Foreign supplier management - FSMA requirements and clearing regulations.
• Basic Microsoft Excel skills (v-lookup, pivot tables and formula entry)
• Knowledge of USDA grading standards and tolerances; PACA laws and regulations

You might also have these skills

• Technical Skills: strong experience in market/supplier analysis and ability to quickly develop commodity expertise.
• Leader: track record of inspiring others around a vision. Able to influence decisions using qualitative and quantitative data.
• Results & Action Oriented: comfortable setting and delivering against bold, stretch targets.
• Communication: able to effectively communicate internally and externally; both verbally and in writing.
• Problem Solver: ability to think outside the box, use available data, find constructive solutions, act independently.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: willing to do whatever it takes with resolve, urgency, and integrity to get the job done.
• Team player: respects solutions that are efficiently and effectively found through collaboration and cooperation. Able to work cross functionally with Supply Chain, Sales, Operations, and Finance.
• Project Manager: well organized, able to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Attention to Detail: detail oriented and strives for perfection.

#LI-NG1