Fresh Director

Associated Wholesale Grocers•Goodlettsville, TN

About The Position

This position supports AWG’s mission to remain firmly committed to our long-established mission statement: “Our mission is to ensure the success of our member retailers and provide opportunities to our employees. This will be accomplished by satisfying the customers’, and our member retailers, needs for quality supermarket merchandise and superior support services. We will do this with high quality employees whose mission is to provide the lowest possible cost of good in order to ensure our members profitability, competitiveness and continued growth.”

Requirements

Proven leadership experience managing people, budgets, and retail programs.
Strong understanding of independent grocery operations and Center Store dynamics is highly preferred.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
In-depth knowledge and understanding of the retail grocery industry
Strong analytical and mathematical abilities to manage complex financial and operational metrics.
A proactive, hands-on approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
Proficiency in retail pricing models, merchandising strategies, and promotional execution.
Planning experience as it pertains to item mix, pricing, promotion, frequency, etc.
Category Management Experience
Strong Business Acumen
Managing and developing people
Strategic agility
Highly adaptable and able to manage various tasks while meeting multiple deadlines.
Ability to build cross-functional relationships and influence outcomes.
Ability to develop a budget and Category Execution plans
Proficient with PowerPoint, Excel, and Word
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field preferred; minimum 7 years in the Grocery/Retail Industry

Nice To Haves

Strong understanding of independent grocery operations and Center Store dynamics is highly preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field preferred

Responsibilities

Financial Performance: Work with Division and Corporate teams to develop and achieve budgeted expectations for fresh department sales, gross margins, gains, promotional spends, and expense control.
Operational Oversight: Monitor service level goals, proper inventory turns, and pricing gains to ensure levels are sufficient to achieve budgeted sales expectations.
Strategic Negotiations: Participate in negotiations with vendors to drive sales and ensure product quality for retail member stores.
Quality Control: Direct the Quality Control team and functions at the division level, working closely with procurement teams to maintain quality and freshness standards.
Leadership & Development: Select, train, develop, and appraise departmental personnel to ensure qualified staffing and build bench strength for future responsibilities.
Member Relations: Make timely visits to member group headquarters and individual stores to maintain professional, supportive, and cordial relationships.
Event Management: Assist with formulating merchandising strategies for food shows and direct the coordination of products, people, and events.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Coordinate with District Sales Managers to determine member merchandising, product, and marketing needs.
Field Management: Manage fresh department field specialists and QC associates in Meat & Seafood, Deli/Bakery, and Produce.
Personnel Administration: Fulfill supervisory responsibilities including interviewing, hiring, planning work, appraising performance, and resolving problems.