Division Merchandising Manager

Gordon Food Service•Brighton, MI

21d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Division Merchandising Manager executes product merchandising activities within an assigned division to support goals across all product categories. In alignment with the Regional Merchandising Manager, this role collaborates and communicates with North American category, marketing, and sales teams, as well as vendors, to execute strategies that support sales, margin, and brand goals. The manager supports divisional market-share growth and product positioning by aligning vendor and broker partners with selling and educational opportunities that serve customers. The role is the primary point of contact for the regional vendor and broker community. It develops, prioritizes, and executes partnership strategies aligned with the company’s long-range plan and divisional goals. The position also supports product training, specialist development, marketing plans, campaigns, and events, and uses reports and other resources to inform decisions and provide product expertise. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a hybrid schedule of four days in the office and one day working from home. The role may require exceptional hours, including evenings and weekends.

Requirements

At least 3 years of product or category knowledge, or previous marketing experience.
High school diploma required.
Excellent customer service, mentoring, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Ability to develop, refine, communicate, and implement plans and to set and define goals.
Ability to maintain knowledge of industry trends and provide training on the technical aspects of commercial or non-commercial segments.
Industry and segment knowledge, with the ability to analyze and interpret data.
Good time-management, administration, and organizational skills.
Ability to build relationships, network, influence, and link resources to plan and execute business practices.
Ability to multitask and work exceptional hours, including evenings and weekends.
Willingness to take on new responsibilities and a strong desire to succeed.
Ability to develop solutions to complex problems using ingenuity and innovation, while ensuring solutions are consistent with organizational objectives.
Candidates who work for a Gordon Food Service customer must provide a letter of support from their management if selected for the interview process.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
Bilingual in English and French.

Responsibilities

Facilitate the flow of product, category, brand, and supplier information between the Regional Merchandising Team and divisional Sales and Marketing Teams.
Collaborate with the Regional Merchandising Team to maintain an appropriate product mix, attain sales goals, and meet margin goals.
Contribute to planning and delivering product training and development for Customer Development Specialists, in collaboration with merchandising, customer support, specialist, training, and supplier or broker teams.
Plan and assist with Product Specialists’ personal and professional development related to product and supplier knowledge.
Serve as the primary communication point for the local broker and supplier community.
Plan and execute strategies and initiatives with internal teams and local suppliers and brokers in support of Regional Merchandising and divisional goals.
Collaborate on the development, monitoring, and execution of local vendor and broker marketing plans.
Support the Campaign and Events Specialist with product and vendor information and strategies for industry, sales, and marketing events; divisional meetings; marketing campaigns; and food shows.
Understand, request, and analyze relevant reports and resources to support effective decision-making and provide product expertise.
Perform other duties as assigned.