Field Category Manager - Food Service
About The Position
The Field Category Manager supports national and regional merchandising strategies by executing local assortment plans and category initiatives. The role develops and maintains category schematics and planograms, oversees category financial performance, makes local pricing decisions, and develops promotional programs and assortment enhancements. It manages local vendor relationships and collaborates with vendors, operations, merchandising, and business unit teams to execute category initiatives. The position also oversees planogram implementation, store resets, operational reporting, program cost allocation, and risk reporting. It supports pilot programs and product testing, analyzes results and feedback, and recommends changes based on performance and competitive trends. The manager is expected to achieve financial goals and KPIs, contribute to team success, and maintain professional and technical expertise. The role may require up to 30% travel.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in advertising, business, or a related field preferred; other combinations of job-related experience and education that meet the requirements may be substituted.
- Five or more years of experience preferred, including at least three years of management responsibility.
- Expertise in MS Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word preferred.
- Strong relationship management, analytical thinking, and financial acumen skills.
- Valid driver’s license required.
- May require up to 30% travel.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in advertising, business, or a related field.
- Five or more years of experience, including at least three years of management responsibility.
- Expertise in MS Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
Responsibilities
- Support national and regional merchandising strategies through execution of local assortment plans and category initiatives.
- Develop and maintain category schematics and planograms in alignment with strategic objectives.
- Establish, monitor, and forecast gross margin performance, sales volume, and profitability for assigned categories.
- Conduct annual category reviews, budgets, and performance analyses, and recommend corrective actions as needed.
- Own frontline and promotional pricing decisions for local assortments.
- Develop promotional concepts, overlay programs, and local assortment enhancements to increase sales and revenue.
- Analyze category sales, margins, and KPI performance, and maintain accurate item cost, retail, and margin-dollar records.
- Manage local vendor relationships, including negotiating cost, terms, and product offerings.
- Maintain relationships with local and national vendors by providing guidance, resolving concerns, and sharing business insights.
- Partner with operations, merchandising, and business unit teams to execute category initiatives.
- Manage planogram implementation, store resets, and operational execution.
- Produce and maintain operational reporting, including out-of-stocks, zero sales, and delivery frequency metrics.
- Allocate and track program costs and prepare operational and risk reports aligned with merchandising priorities.
- Support pilot programs and product testing, including preparing and delivering communication materials.
- Track pilot and testing results, analyze feedback, and report findings to appropriate teams.
- Recommend changes based on performance results and competitive trends.
- Achieve financial goals and key performance indicators in accordance with company plans and guidelines.
- Contribute to team success through collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Maintain professional and technical expertise through training, industry publications, networking, and professional organizations.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
