Category Manager - Bakery and Sushi

Fresh Thyme Market•Aurora, IL

2d•$74,750 - $117,250•Hybrid

About The Position

The Category Manager - Bakery and Sushi manages assigned categories to meet or exceed projected budgets for sales, profit, shrink, and inventory. The role serves as the direct liaison between stores and vendors, including the distribution center, and supports department managers with training and development and the implementation of company programs and initiatives. The position follows a hybrid schedule: Monday through Wednesday in the Downer's Grove, Illinois office and Thursday through Friday remotely. Travel of 5–10% is expected. The manager develops and implements category pricing, promotions, assortment, shelf schematics, merchandising plans, and budgets; negotiates with vendors; reviews financial and inventory performance; manages shrink; and communicates plans and changes to stores and internal teams. The role also supports store operations, training, health-code compliance, and implementation of category and promotional programs. The position requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent grocery industry experience and at least six years of professional experience. The posted pay range is $74,750–$117,250, with incentive bonus opportunities. Full-time team member benefits include medical, dental, and life insurance. All team members receive paid parental leave, access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Program, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent grocery industry experience.
At least 6 years of professional experience.
Maintain the highest level of customer service.
Adapt to high-volume retail and work in a cross-functional team environment.
Demonstrate initiative, sound decision-making, analytical skills, and problem-solving skills.
Adapt flexibly to a variety of situations.
Have advanced attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
Have excellent written communication and documentation skills.
Have excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills for effective business relationships with peers, senior management, customers, and vendors.
Have advanced knowledge of MS Office, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
Multitask and maintain strong organizational skills.
Lead, support, and contribute to team goals.
Work varied hours and days as business dictates.
Be familiar with Health Department guidelines and regulations for grocery retail.
Understand category business planning, marketing, and merchandising practices.
Read and interpret profit and loss statements and understand their effect on managed categories.
Have strong people skills and patience for training and communicating with customers and stores.

Nice To Haves

5–7 years of grocery retail experience in Natural Foods processes and procedures.
Previous experience in the natural foods industry.
Bakery category product knowledge.
Financial, mathematical, statistical, and consumer research experience 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 yearly category business plans and budgets based on company initiatives and consumer and market trends.
Negotiate and collaborate with vendors on pricing, assortment, promotions, advertising, services, 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.
Keep store inventory within company standards and report inventory discrepancies.
Manage shrink controls at the category level.
Authorize new items; research vendors, request and analyze quotes, select products, and implement product placement.
Research, develop, and implement merchandising and advertising plans supporting category and department initiatives.
Help ensure stores meet company and health-code standards.
Attend key vendor company planning meetings.
Manage and implement local and seasonal items for new and existing stores.
Design schematics and recommend category adjacencies.
Conduct post-promotion analysis to track sales and profit results.
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 and advertising plans, price changes, projections, and other relevant information to stores, operations, vendors, support offices, and the department.
Help train and develop store-level Department Managers and Operational Specialists.
Work with procurement to communicate category and promotional plans and help achieve service levels and optimal inventory.
Work with operations and other departments to facilitate program implementation.
Perform other duties as assigned.