Director

Associated Wholesale Grocers•Springfield, MO

About The Position

This role involves working with Division and Corporate teams to develop and achieve budgeted expectations for fresh department sales, gross margins, gains, promotional spends, and expense control in the Meat & Seafood, Deli/Bakery, & Produce departments. The Director will report and identify variances to the Vice-President Merchandising. Key responsibilities include monitoring service level goals, inventory turns, pricing gains, and inventory levels. The role also involves participating in vendor negotiations, ensuring product quality, directing the Quality Control team, and collaborating with procurement teams. Additionally, the Director will be responsible for selecting, training, developing, and appraising departmental personnel, making timely visits to member group headquarters and stores, assisting with regional product sourcing and supply, and formulating merchandising strategies for food shows. The position requires maintaining contact with key regional suppliers, supporting company philosophy and policy, developing professional relationships with member store retailers, and coordinating with District Sales Managers. The Director will manage fresh department field specialists and QC associates, fulfilling supervisory responsibilities in accordance with company policies and applicable laws, including interviewing, hiring, training, planning, assigning, directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, and resolving problems.

Requirements

Degree or equivalent; or three to five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must be able to speak and write in a professional manner.
Strong mathematical skills, including the ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
Must possess deductive, analogical, cause and effect and be a critical thinker.
Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

Develop and achieve budgeted expectations for fresh department sales, gross margins, gains, promotional spends, and expense control in the Meat & Seafood, Deli/Bakery, & Produce departments.
Report and identify variances to the Vice-President Merchandising.
Monitor service level goals, proper turns, pricing gains, and assurance of inventory levels necessary to achieve budgeted sales expectations.
Participate in the negotiations with vendors to drive sales.
Ensure product quality from vendors to retail member stores.
Direct the Quality Control team and the functions at the division level.
Work closely with division and corporate procurement teams to maintain quality and freshness standards.
Select, train, develop and appraise departmental personnel to ensure qualified staffing for all fresh department positions.
Develop a well trained staff and build bench strength for future promotions and responsibilities.
Make timely visits to member group headquarters and individual stores.
Assist and guide regional product sourcing and supply.
Assist with formulating the merchandising strategy for food shows.
Direct the coordination and execution of products, people, and events of the food show events.
Maintain contact with key regional suppliers to assist in driving sales in the division.
Support company philosophy and policy in accordance with regard to trade, associates and retail members.
Develop and maintain a professional, supportive and cordial relationship with all member store retailers.
Coordinate with District Sales Managers to determine member merchandising, product, and marketing needs.
Collaborating with the Sales Managers, manage fresh department field specialists and QC associates in the Meat & Seafood, Deli/Bakery & Produce departments.
Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these associates, and the respective business units.
Fulfill the supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies, procedures and applicable laws.
Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, training of associates, planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.