Category Manager II - HBC/GM

Lunds & Byerlys • Edina, MN

1d • $80,000 - $116,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Category Manager II is responsible for achieving category goals and setting standards and operating objectives for the GM and HBC departments, including the Living Wise wellness concept. The role works with the category team to establish annual and quarterly business objectives and operating standards, communicate them to category staff, and support location-specific objectives. The position applies category management principles and works onsite five days a week at the corporate office in downtown Edina.

The Category Manager provides strategic direction for assigned product areas, considering consumer trends, competition, merchandising, product offerings, pricing, profitability, and sales objectives. The role develops promotional plans, analyzes financial performance, supports product launches, monitors product quality and pricing, negotiates vendor programs, and manages the Living Wise assortment. It also builds relationships with customers and cross-functional partners and identifies trend-forward wellness products.

This is a full-time position with a starting salary range of $80,000–$116,000 per year. It is eligible for short-term incentive compensation of up to 10% of base salary, based on role-specific and company metrics. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, health spending and savings accounts, supplemental on-demand healthcare, paid time off, 401(k) matching, and other health and wellness benefits.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, food services, or equivalent.
• Three or more years of retail, category management, and/or buying experience.
• Ability to make effective decisions grounded in data and analytics.
• Ability to create merchandising plans based on commonly adopted merchandising theory and best practices.
• Understanding of the retail category development process and its relationship to achieving objectives.
• Proficiency with syndicated data and consumer panel information.
• Aptitude in financial reporting and a record of success in a results-driven environment.
• Action-oriented approach, effective communication, customer focus, and ability to instill trust.
• Service-oriented, high-energy, positive, and friendly demeanor.
• Ability to respond to changing priorities and coordinate multiple projects.
• Strong computer skills, including Outlook, Excel, and Word.
• Excellent customer service, interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Strategic planning and creative concept planning skills.
• Understanding of vendor go-to-market trade fund strategies and ability to use consumer insights to maximize trade funds and drive sales.
• Project management, sound judgment, and decision-making abilities.
• Understanding of operating budgets and how to accomplish financial goals.
• Strong leadership and a collaborative, consensus-building approach to maximizing team performance.
• Ability to identify issues and determine solutions that enhance the work environment and store operations.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in GM, HBC, or wellness categories preferred.
• Nielsen RWS and SPINS data experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish strategic vision and direction for assigned product areas, incorporating consumer food trends, competitive developments, merchandising, product offerings, pricing, profitability, and sales objectives.
• Collaborate with the category team to establish annual and quarterly sales and profit objectives for each location and coach locations toward those objectives.
• Oversee and contribute to seasonal product promotional plans, provide training, and monitor performance.
• Review financial performance reports and analyze data to identify opportunities for cost savings through efficient resource planning, including labor.
• Develop communication models that provide stakeholders with relevant information, tools, resources, and involvement in decisions, programs, and strategies.
• Coordinate new product introductions and ensure training on preparation, presentation, pricing, promotion, and marketing.
• Monitor product quality and ensure recipe, ingredient, preparation, presentation, food quality, and food safety standards are followed.
• Develop and maintain business-building relationships with key customer contacts and collaborate with cross-functional organizational resources.
• Negotiate vendor programs, services, and costs to improve profitability and the customer shopping experience.
• Develop and manage the assortment for the Living Wise wellness store concept.
• Identify and launch trend-forward products in wellness categories as a subject matter expert.
• Monitor pricing integrity, margins, consistency among locations, and profitability objectives.
• Recommend ways to achieve the lowest product cost while meeting consumer needs and expectations; support store brand product selection and recommend appropriate margins.

Benefits

• Competitive medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Health spending and savings accounts
• Supplemental free on-demand healthcare
• Paid time off
• 401(k) matching
• Other value-added health and wellness benefits
• Short-term incentive compensation of up to 10% of base salary based on achieved role-specific and company metrics

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level