Director, Meat and Seafood

Good Food Holdings Companies • Portland, OR

49d

About The Position

As part of the merchandising leadership team, provides guidance and management of the Category Managers for Meat and Seafood programs / departments for New Seasons Market. Responsible for oversight of the category strategies including product, promotion, retail price and value, store layout, and training. Responsible for achieving the sales and financial targets for the individual store departments. This is a leadership position. You are responsible for providing leadership in line with company values and promoting a positive and progressive work environment in alignment with our company mission, vision, values, and policies.

Requirements

• As a retail grocer, we operate 7 days/week and 365 days/year and as such work in support of our stores may include evening and weekend hours per the needs of the business.
• Valid Driver License and vehicle required, with ability to travel regularly to store locations, trade shows / events and/or other off-site locations throughout the United States.
• Valid Food Handler’s Card.
• Minimum of 10 years of retail merchandising and category management experience required.
• Previous food and/or grocery specific industry experience preferred. Experience in a multi-unit, high growth retail or similar environment required.
• Experience in the preparation, handling, and sale of fresh meat and seafood, with strong knowledge of food safety, customer service, and product presentation.
• High level knowledge and experience of P&L management, accountability for sales, labor and margin contribution required.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers for costs, promotions, services and distribution strategies.
• Excellent record of maintaining first-rate sanitation and food handling standards including HACCP programs, good manufacturing standards and food safety regulations
• Previous management or leadership level experience required. Experience managing and mentoring multiple direct reports, including across multiple geographic regions.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administrations, Retail Management, Marketing or related fields required, however relevant work experience in lieu of formal education is acceptable.
• High-level proficiency with MS Office. Working knowledge of culinary production management systems or other retail specific software highly preferred. Skills to learn new computer programs and systems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including tact and diplomacy, to collaborate, negotiate and communicate effectively and professionally with cross-functional partners at all levels in the company.
• Ability to manage financial results, including labor, sales and profit margin.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with problem-solving, project management and execution of initiatives across multiple locations and regions.
• Proven experience driving and executing strategic initiatives, policies, programs and projects that achieve measurable business results.

Responsibilities

• Guides and directs the Category Managers in New Seasons Market (NSM) Meat and Seafood categories to ensure that the overall company’s objectives are being met regarding vendor partnerships, product assortment, financial stewardship, and supply-chain management.
• Supervises, mentors and coaches the Meat and Seafood merchandising teams. Communicates expectations and holds staff accountable through ongoing feedback, coaching and training.
• Ensures we cultivate a strong relationship with our vendor partners, uphold our Pledge to Vendors, and ensure we are the “best place to do business”. Ensures our vendors grow as we grow and provide assistance where we can so that they can achieve their full potential.
• Conducts periodic reviews of assortment and product selection to ensure we are meeting our objectives around product mix.
• Provides guidance to merchandisers about changing customer trends. Gather insights from internal and external resources to enable fact-based decision-making.
• Drives innovation and the spirit of bold thinking that gives NSM a competitive edge while ensuring strong balance across planet, people, and profit.
• Works with merchandising leadership to implement category insights practices and a business discipline around product, price, promotion, and placement.
• Works with Procurement team to meet our goals for price / value and competitive position. Identifies image and margin opportunities and oversees the necessary modelling and analysis with recommendations to management.
• Establishes clear plans to support the company’s promotional and merchandising planning calendar.
• Provides oversight and direction to the weekly ad circular. Coordinates with team to create a cohesive plan, manage markdown investment, and deliver financial targets.
• Creates and models Standard Operating Practices (SOPs) so that our merchandising plans and strategies come to life in our stores in a way that ensures operational excellence and an amazing customer and staff experience.
• Conducts regular store walks to ensure full understanding of program success including product knowledge, visual merchandising and general program schematics.
• Provides input into the annual planning process (financial and strategic).
• Stays abreast of industry changes around category trends, new products, equipment, and fixtures.
• Works with the merchandising team, store department managers / leadership, and others as needed, to create exciting promotional events that drive customer traffic and trial of our signature and destination categories.
• Provides input to the new store / renovation layout and design process so that we are setting ourselves apart from the competition while ensuring operational efficiency and cost control.
• Works closely with marketing to generate new ideas and leverage new technology to promote our stories, our people, and our products.
• Develops effective and timely processes to provide weekly updates to leadership, marketing, and stores on category / item performance, event analysis, and profitability.
• Works with merchandising, accounting, and store development to create targets for all capital expenditures. Conduct regular analyses on strategic investments (ROI).
• Conducts period end assessments as needed. Works with Operations teams to identify and solve areas of opportunity that are diluting sales or margin potential.
• Participates in quarterly program review processes as needed.
• Partners with store leadership to help develop category department managers and staff.
• Performs other tasks and duties as assigned.

Benefits

• All staff have access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and our 30% staff shopping discount.
• Full-time, regular-status staff that regularly work 24 hours or more per week and have worked for 60 days are eligible for medical, dental, vision, pre-tax spending accounts, life, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), and disability benefits.
• Full-time, part-time, and temporary staff who have worked for 60 days and are at least 21 years of age may participate in the 401(k) program.
• Employees begin accruing PTO on their first day of employment; the amount they accrue depends on hours worked and tenure.
• Staff may be eligible for paid holidays, depending on schedule and tenure.
• Additional benefits include supplemental leave pay (such as parental or bereavement), a store incentive program based on financial & operational goals, paid time for volunteering at a 501(c)3 non-profit, discounts on some forms of public transportation, adoption assistance, and up to $40 reimbursement for dinner out or New Seasons Market groceries for their birthday.

What This Job Offers

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