Director of Merchandising - Center Store

coborns • Saint Cloud, MN

1d • $121,000 - $202,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Coborns’ team is hiring a new Director of Merchandising – Center Store! If you are a senior merchandising leader who is looking to build, inspire, and lead a high-performing category management team across a regional, multi-banner grocery organization, join our REMARKABLE Team! In this hands-on Director position, you will partner closely with cross-functional teams and vendor partners while directly owning an assigned portfolio of Center Store categories. By developing talent, fostering collaboration, and balancing strategic vision with day-to-day execution, you will drive sustainable sales growth, margin performance, and inventory productivity through effective assortment, pricing, promotion, and vendor strategies. What Will I Do In This Role? Lead, coach, and develop a team of Center Store Category Managers and merchandising Analysts Direct overall Center Store strategies to achieve sales, profit, and inventory goals Personally own and manage assigned categories with full accountability for results Conduct supplier negotiations and joint business planning with key CPG partners Oversee competitive pricing and promotional planning disciplines Partner with Space Management to guide planogram strategy and shelf presentation Collaborate with Supply Chain and Store Operations to improve forecasting, fill rates, and item lifecycle management Ensure eCommerce assortment accuracy and alignment with in-store plans Analyze internal and external data to guide fact-based decisions Support new store openings, remodels, and merchandising initiatives Position Location: This position is an in-office position with the ability to work remotely on Friday; occasional travel to stores and vendor meetings. What's In It For Me? Our remarkable employees are at the heart of everything we do. At Coborn’s, we’re committed to creating a supportive and rewarding workplace—one that offers a vibrant, team-oriented environment, ongoing career growth, and meaningful benefits. As an employee-owned company, we believe in investing in our people and their futures. We’re proud to offer a variety of benefits to both our full-time and part-time employees, including: 10% employee discount on grocery items, with additional franchise-specific discounts available at company owned Ace Hardware, Caribou Coffee, Erbert and Gerbert’s, and Pet Supplies Plus locations. Get Paid Daily with DailyPay – for employees who would like access to their pay before payday, we offer this great benefit! Paid Time Off (PTO/Vacation) Paid Floating Holidays & time and a half (1 ½) paid for hours worked on a company-recognized holiday! Sunday Premium Pay – an extra $1 per hour for hours worked on Sundays (some exclusions apply) Paid Military Leave Employee recognition programs with monetary rewards including in-store vouchers, years of service, and employee of the month Employee Health & Wellness Programs, Challenges and Resources – to assist our team members in living a life of wellbeing! Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – unlimited phone access to legal, financial, and work-life services and up to five free in-person counseling sessions, per situation/issue, per year Access to a national discount marketplace for travel, electronics, auto/home insurance , entertainment and more! Tools, resources and opportunities for career growth and development 401(k) plan options – we also match up to 20% of the first 5% contributed Participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) – yes, we’re employee-owned! Our team members benefit from the success of the company through this company-sponsored benefit! Education benefits including tuition discount and scholarship programs Additional Voluntary Benefits – such as vision, accident and critical illness insurances If you’re hired or promoted into a full-time position with our company, you will also be eligible for: Medical & Dental Insurance, Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Tuition Reimbursement, Adoption Reimbursement, Paid Family Caregiver Leave, as well as company-sponsored Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, and Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance!

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or related field
• Minimum 7 years of progressive grocery-retail merchandising or category management experience
• At least 3 years of leadership experience
• Proven track record driving category sales and margin performance
• Extensive vendor negotiation expertise
• Strong analytical, financial, communication, and presentation skills

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Center Store Category Managers and merchandising Analysts
• Direct overall Center Store strategies to achieve sales, profit, and inventory goals
• Personally own and manage assigned categories with full accountability for results
• Conduct supplier negotiations and joint business planning with key CPG partners
• Oversee competitive pricing and promotional planning disciplines
• Partner with Space Management to guide planogram strategy and shelf presentation
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Store Operations to improve forecasting, fill rates, and item lifecycle management
• Ensure eCommerce assortment accuracy and alignment with in-store plans
• Analyze internal and external data to guide fact-based decisions
• Support new store openings, remodels, and merchandising initiatives

Benefits

• 10% employee discount on grocery items, with additional franchise-specific discounts available at company owned Ace Hardware, Caribou Coffee, Erbert and Gerbert’s, and Pet Supplies Plus locations.
• Get Paid Daily with DailyPay
• Paid Time Off (PTO/Vacation)
• Paid Floating Holidays & time and a half (1 ½) paid for hours worked on a company-recognized holiday!
• Sunday Premium Pay – an extra $1 per hour for hours worked on Sundays (some exclusions apply)
• Paid Military Leave
• Employee recognition programs with monetary rewards including in-store vouchers, years of service, and employee of the month
• Employee Health & Wellness Programs, Challenges and Resources
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Access to a national discount marketplace for travel, electronics, auto/home insurance , entertainment and more!
• Tools, resources and opportunities for career growth and development
• 401(k) plan options – we also match up to 20% of the first 5% contributed
• Participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP)
• Education benefits including tuition discount and scholarship programs
• Additional Voluntary Benefits – such as vision, accident and critical illness insurances
• Medical & Dental Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption Reimbursement
• Paid Family Caregiver Leave
• Term Life Insurance
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees