Merchandising Manager
About The Position
The Merchandising Manager drives sales, margin, and share growth of Kroger Our Brands products in assigned categories. The role provides analytical and technical support to Kroger managers, assists with sales planning and promotional execution, and recommends new products and merchandising opportunities. It also identifies and represents suppliers and facilitates communications among suppliers, Kroger teams, and P.L. Marketing. This is a hybrid position requiring work at the corporate office at least two days per week, according to the team’s schedule. The manager leverages category expertise, consumer data, and information from P.L. Marketing, Kroger corporate systems, and syndicated sources to influence pricing strategies, promotional campaigns, sales plans, product placement, and packaging. The role communicates category plans to division teams and supports execution at retail, while educating suppliers about Kroger’s Corporate Brand strategy and working with suppliers and Kroger buyers on promotional opportunities, sales and margins, and supply and distribution issues. The manager develops recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the support team and provides supervision, feedback, and direction to direct-report P.L. Marketing employees in assigned categories. The role also builds grocery-industry and private-label expertise and represents P.L. Marketing and assigned categories to Kroger senior management. Essential functions must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.
Requirements
- Minimum of 6 years of experience working in grocery merchandising or sales.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to learn multiple computer systems and web-based applications.
- Strong leadership, coaching, and management skills.
- Ability to collaborate and contribute effectively to a team.
- Expert organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Highly motivated self-starter able to work with minimal supervision.
- Ability to craft and deliver messages effectively to senior-level executives.
- Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, prioritize, and multitask.
- Ability to remain standing or sitting for several hours at a time.
- Ability to lift 10–15 pounds occasionally.
- Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Nice To Haves
- A four-year degree in Business Marketing, Operations, Economics, or equivalent education is preferred.
- A blend of grocery merchandising and data-analysis experience is preferred.
- At least 4 years of grocery experience in a merchandising capacity.
- Demonstrated and documented accomplishments in category sales, marketing, management, product development, negotiations, vendor relations, procurement, distribution, and merchandising.
Responsibilities
- Drive sales, margin, and share growth of Kroger Our Brands products in assigned categories.
- Provide analytical and technical support to Kroger managers and assist with sales plans and promotional execution.
- Influence pricing strategies, annual promotional campaigns, and period sales plans to achieve financial targets.
- Use category trends and consumer data to recommend new items, promotions, product placement, packaging, and other sales and merchandising opportunities.
- Provide category analysis using personal expertise, information from P.L. Marketing teams, Kroger corporate systems, and syndicated sources including 84.51, Market 6, Mintel, and IRI.
- Communicate category sales plans and strategies to division teams and facilitate retail execution of promotional and merchandising activities.
- Educate vendor suppliers about Kroger’s Corporate Brand strategy and how they can support sales-plan objectives.
- Work with suppliers and Kroger buyers to provide ongoing feedback on promotional opportunities, sales and margins, and supply and distribution issues.
- Develop strategies and recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the support team while incorporating P.L. Marketing and Kroger objectives.
- Supervise, provide feedback to, and direct assigned P.L. Marketing employees as needed.
- Continue developing expertise in the grocery industry, especially private-label dynamics in assigned categories.
- Represent P.L. Marketing and assigned categories to Kroger senior management.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
