Merchandising Manager

P.L. Marketing, Inc.•Newport, KY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

POSITION SUMMARY: To drive increased sales, margin and share growth of Kroger Our Brands products in categories you participate. Provide both analytical and technical support for a number of Kroger Managers, and assist them in the development of the sales plan and execution of promotions. Recommend the introduction of new products and additional merchandising opportunities for the categories you participate. Effectively identify, professionally represent and actively facilitate communications with numerous suppliers/vendors. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: This hybrid position will be required to work in our Corporate Office at least two days per week based on your team’s schedule Leverage your own expertise and those of the P.L. Marketing team to enable Kroger’s Our Brand teams to reach their sales goals and stated objectives; influence the development of pricing strategies, annual promotional campaigns and period sales plans designed to achieve financial targets Increase the quantity and quality of Our Brand Products in the Kroger sales plan; utilize category trends and consumer data to recommend sales and merchandising opportunities that include new items, promotions, product placement and packaging Assist Kroger Our Brand Managers in the development of strategies for the categories you participate; provide expert category analysis obtained through your own experience, information supplied by the teams at P.L. Marketing and by leveraging the data available from multiple Kroger corporate systems and syndicated sources such as 84.51, Market 6, Mintel and IRI Communicate the sales plans and strategies of the categories you represent to the division teams; facilitate successful execution of all promotional and merchandising activities in the sales plan at the retail level Educate vendor suppliers as to the overall direction of Kroger’s Corporate Brand strategy and the specifics as to how they can best support the objectives defined in the sales plan; work with suppliers and Kroger buyers to provide ongoing feedback regarding promotional opportunities, sales/margins and supply/distribution issues Develop strategies and recommendations to increase efficiency and effectiveness of your support team that incorporates the objectives of both P.L. Marketing and Kroger; provide ongoing supervision, feedback and direction as needed to P.L. Marketing employees reporting directly to you who work in your assigned categories Continue to gain expertise in all facets of the grocery industry, especially the dynamics of private label in those categories you participate; professionally and effectively represent both P.L. Marketing and the categories you participate to members of Kroger Senior Management Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Requirements

4 year degree in Business Marketing, Operations, Economics or equivalent education preferred
Minimum of 6 years’ experience working in the grocery merchandising/sales
Proficient Microsoft office applications including Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
Capacity to learn multiple computer systems and web based applications
Strong leadership, coaching and management skills
Capability to collaborate with others and contribute effectively to a team
Expert organizational, analytical and problem solving skills
Highly motivated self-starter who can work with minimal supervision
Ability to effectively craft and deliver a message to senior level executives
Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, prioritize and multi-task
Must be able to: remain standing/sitting for several hours at a time
lift 10-15 lbs. occasionally

Nice To Haves

A blend of grocery merchandising and data analysis experience preferred
Minimum of 4 years’ grocery experience in a merchandising capacity
Demonstrated and documented accomplishments in the area of category sales, marketing, management, product development, negotiations, vendor relations, procurement, distribution and merchandising

Responsibilities

Drive increased sales, margin and share growth of Kroger Our Brands products in categories you participate.
Provide both analytical and technical support for a number of Kroger Managers, and assist them in the development of the sales plan and execution of promotions.
Recommend the introduction of new products and additional merchandising opportunities for the categories you participate.
Effectively identify, professionally represent and actively facilitate communications with numerous suppliers/vendors.
Leverage your own expertise and those of the P.L. Marketing team to enable Kroger’s Our Brand teams to reach their sales goals and stated objectives; influence the development of pricing strategies, annual promotional campaigns and period sales plans designed to achieve financial targets
Increase the quantity and quality of Our Brand Products in the Kroger sales plan; utilize category trends and consumer data to recommend sales and merchandising opportunities that include new items, promotions, product placement and packaging
Assist Kroger Our Brand Managers in the development of strategies for the categories you participate; provide expert category analysis obtained through your own experience, information supplied by the teams at P.L. Marketing and by leveraging the data available from multiple Kroger corporate systems and syndicated sources such as 84.51, Market 6, Mintel and IRI
Communicate the sales plans and strategies of the categories you represent to the division teams; facilitate successful execution of all promotional and merchandising activities in the sales plan at the retail level
Educate vendor suppliers as to the overall direction of Kroger’s Corporate Brand strategy and the specifics as to how they can best support the objectives defined in the sales plan; work with suppliers and Kroger buyers to provide ongoing feedback regarding promotional opportunities, sales/margins and supply/distribution issues
Develop strategies and recommendations to increase efficiency and effectiveness of your support team that incorporates the objectives of both P.L. Marketing and Kroger; provide ongoing supervision, feedback and direction as needed to P.L. Marketing employees reporting directly to you who work in your assigned categories
Continue to gain expertise in all facets of the grocery industry, especially the dynamics of private label in those categories you participate; professionally and effectively represent both P.L. Marketing and the categories you participate to members of Kroger Senior Management