Category Manager - Produce

Fresh Thyme Market•Downer's Grove, IL

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Category Manager - Produce is responsible for managing assigned categories to meet or exceed budgets for sales, direct margin, shrink, inventory management, and customer satisfaction. The role develops and implements effective assortment, pricing, promotion, and merchandising strategies and serves as a liaison among stores, vendors, and the distribution center. It also supports department managers through training and development and helps implement company programs and initiatives. The position follows a hybrid schedule: Monday through Wednesday in the Downers Grove, Illinois office and Thursday through Friday remotely. Travel is expected 10–15% of the time. Compensation is $74,750–$117,250 base pay, with potential incentive bonuses based on individual and company performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent grocery industry experience.
At least 6 years of professional experience.
5–7 years of grocery retail experience involving Produce merchandising, category management, pricing, promotions, and assortment planning.
Demonstrated understanding of Produce merchandising, category analytics, seasonal planning, freshness management, shrink control, and promotional effectiveness.
Maintain the highest level of customer service.
Ability to adapt to a fast-changing, high-volume retail environment and work in a cross-functional team.
Initiative and sound decision-making, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Flexibility, attention to detail, prioritization, and ability to meet deadlines.
Excellent written communication, documentation, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills.
Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
Ability to multitask and strong organizational skills.
Ability to lead, support, and contribute to team goals.
Ability to work varied hours and days as business dictates.
Familiarity with health department guidelines and regulations for grocery retail.
Familiarity with category business planning and an understanding of marketing and merchandising practices.
Ability to read and interpret profit and loss statements and understand how managed categories affect results.
People skills and patience for training and communicating with customers and stores.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in the natural foods industry.
Strong Produce category knowledge, including seasonality, freshness standards, merchandising best practices, and consumer trends.
Experience with financial, mathematical, statistical, and consumer research to interpret how internal and external factors influence financial results.

Responsibilities

Create and implement pricing, promotion, assortment, and shelf schematics for assigned categories using performance analysis, industry practices, and consumer trends.
Create annual category business plans and budgets based on company initiatives, consumer trends, and market trends.
Negotiate and collaborate with vendors on pricing, assortment, promotions, advertising, services, promotional calendars, and support; serve as the primary vendor contact for assigned categories.
Review category and department financials monthly and take action to meet sales, margin, and budget expectations.
Ensure store inventory levels meet company standards and report inventory discrepancies.
Manage category performance through assortment, merchandising, freshness, quality, and shrink-control strategies.
Research vendors and products, request and analyze quotes, select products, authorize new items, and implement product placement.
Develop and execute category plans covering assortment, merchandising, pricing, promotions, and seasonal strategies.
Lead category merchandising initiatives, seasonal programs, and innovation efforts to drive sales, customer engagement, and market differentiation.
Help ensure stores meet company and health-code standards.
Attend key vendor planning meetings.
Manage and implement special and seasonal items for new and existing stores.
Design schematics and recommend category adjacencies.
Analyze results after promotional periods to evaluate sales and profit performance.
Maintain and review price files and competitive price checks.
Support stores with shelf and display decisions and visit stores as needed to observe merchandising results.
Communicate merchandising plans, advertising plans, price changes, projections, and other relevant information to stores, operations, vendors, support offices, and departments.
Help train and develop store-level Department Managers and Operational Specialists.
Work closely with procurement, distribution, operations, and supplier partners to execute strategies while maintaining optimal inventory and freshness.
Coordinate with operations and other departments to implement programs.
Perform other duties as assigned.