IMCO Merchandising Category Manager

Sysco•Woodridge, IL

About The Position

The Merchandising Category Manager assists with online site merchandising for several categories across primary and tertiary domain sites, including SOTF, IW, CMU, and GPO sites. Work spans homepages, index and landing pages, onsite search pages, product pages, cross-sell and up-sell placements, new product launches, and Google and CSE feeds. The role manages product presentation on-site and financial forecasts for a select product group, collaborating with business analytics and data entry personnel to achieve category goals. The position develops and executes online merchandising strategies, supports conversion, sales, and margin goals, manages supplier and product relationships, and uses competitive research and web analytics to improve performance. It also handles day-to-day online merchandising and content management and helps develop and train category assistants.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in business.
At least 3 years of experience in online merchandising.
Leadership experience and ability to develop a team.
Negotiation experience.
Experience with planning, tracking, and budgeting.
Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, and project management software.
Exceptional organizational skills and strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to think independently and maintain attention to detail.
Ability to write short correspondence and communicate clearly in English.
Ability to follow detailed procedures and processes accurately.
Ability to work accurately in a fast-paced environment and comfortably under pressure.
Ability to work with a diverse group of people, prioritize multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
Ability to work independently and as part of a group on multiple ongoing projects.
Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers, including management, coworkers, vendors, and customers.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic calculations, including percentages.
Ability to concentrate for extended periods and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to act ethically, honestly, and professionally and maintain discretion with company information.
Must be currently authorized to work in the United States.
Must be able to sit for prolonged periods, occasionally bend, reach, and stoop, look at a computer screen and type for prolonged periods, read written materials, and occasionally lift, carry, or move up to 30 pounds.
Required vision abilities include close, color, peripheral, and depth vision and the ability to adjust focus; the role also frequently requires talking or hearing.

Responsibilities

Assist in developing and executing online merchandising strategy, including selecting featured products, suggestive sells, and coordinating items.
Support tactics to achieve budgeted conversion, sales, and margin.
Build supplier relationships and conduct financial negotiations.
Develop and manage vendors, suppliers, and available products.
Research and recommend competitive, relevant pricing.
Work with logistics to optimize supplier shipping performance.
Make decisions based on reporting and provide status updates and timelines to merchandising team members and company management.
Monitor competitors’ online sites and maintain an archive of competitor information.
Recommend merchandising improvements focused on serving customers and outperforming competitors.
Use web analytics and analysis to drive day-to-day improvements.
Work with merchandise analytics to position best sellers prominently and ensure they are in stock; make site changes to optimize sales.
Work with merchandise and marketing teams to grow product and occasion categories.
Manage day-to-day online merchandising and content management details.
Help develop and train category assistants on category management.
Manage on-site product presentation and financial forecasts for a select product group in collaboration with business analytics and data entry personnel.