National Category Director

Albertsons • Boise, ID

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Albertsons Companies has an exciting opportunity to strategically manage a category(s) nationally for the entire organization. You will play an integral part in our growth and transformation as a company, as we seek to provide industry leading customer experience and grow our market share. In this role you must be comfortable as both a team leader and team player. You have deep category management experience. You have an entrepreneurial spirit and a successful track record of managing high-functioning teams. You have an analytical mindset and can determine data-driven solutions to complex problems. You are a collaborative team member used to presenting analyses and insights to your peers and having discussions to resolve challenges. You are a passionate and proven negotiator. You are decisive in your actions, yet collaborative in your approach. You want to be part of a team that will build category expertise and an amazing culture to drive the overall success of the company.

Requirements

• Deep category management experience.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and a successful track record of managing high-functioning teams.
• Analytical mindset and ability to determine data-driven solutions to complex problems.
• Collaborative team member used to presenting analyses and insights to peers and having discussions to resolve challenges.
• Passionate and proven negotiator.
• Decisive in actions, yet collaborative in approach.
• Field or relevant business experience where a solid understanding of marketing, merchandising, consumer research, and financial management practices have been gained.
• Excellent understanding of store operations, merchandising methodologies and practices, and P&L and financial management.
• Strong quantitative, marketing, merchandising, and consumer research background to read, interpret, and understand how internal and external factors influence financial results.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills and experience in taking initiative and making decisive yet appropriate decisions.
• Strong planning, facilitating, and organizing skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills as well as excellent interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective relationships within and outside the company.
• Strategy development skills.
• Proven track record of being a strong negotiator.
• Skilled in Category Business Planning.
• Able to effectively lead a collaborative process with multiple stakeholders.
• Understanding of procurement, logistics, and inventory management.
• 5-10 plus years retail merchandising/category management and operations experience.
• 3-5 plus years Division and or National level retail operations, merchandising/category, marketing, and finance experience.
• Experienced with successfully leading large-scale projects across multiple retail locations.
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience with a related degree in Business, Marketing, or related field.
• Demonstrated success record in collaborating with multiple functional areas to achieve overall company goals which would include but not be limited to Divisions, Senior Leadership, Procurement and Vendor Partners.
• Proven leadership and ability to lead by influencing others without direct authority, both formally and informally.
• Ability to create an environment that fosters learning, teaching, growth, risk-taking, and innovation.
• Balances the needs of multiple stakeholders while maintaining strong executive level partnerships.
• Highly self-motivated and self-learner that assumes personal accountability for results and performance that has a passion for lifelong learning and personal development.
• Demonstrated track record as proactive trusted advisor/leader in an organization, particularly around strategic issues to drive results.
• Ability to implement innovative plans in reaction to a range of business and consumer challenges and to sell these programs to our Division Management Teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills as well as excellent interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective relationships within and outside the company.
• Strategy development skills.
• Proven track record of being a strong negotiator.
• Skilled in Category Business Planning.
• Able to effectively lead a collaborative process with multiple stakeholders and working in a matrixed environment.
• Understanding of procurement, logistics, and inventory management.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency with merchandising tools (e.g., Periscope, Demand Tech, I2E, BI Dashboards, GOLD, OMNI, IRI, Nielsen, Mintel, tool).
• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA).

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage merchandising strategy for a given category(s).
• Serve as the leader of a category pod, collaborating and leading merchandising planning activities for assigned category(s).
• Work closely with national and division merchandising leadership to determine category strategies.
• Develop deep category expertise, including understanding of category trends, innovations, consumer preferences, nuances by geography and customer segments, and competitor activity.
• Negotiate with national suppliers on behalf of the divisions.
• Strategically manage category(s) to meet sales, profit, and market share targets at the national and division level.
• Create and implement category strategy, pricing strategy, promotional strategy, and assortment strategy for each assigned category.
• Lead the merchandising planning process with national and division merchants within the category pod to maximize category performance.
• Serve as the company’s Subject Matter Expert (SME) for assigned category(s).
• Research category trends, innovations, competitors, and regional preferences.
• Conduct all company-wide negotiations with suppliers of assigned categories, including cost, assortment, funding, and replenishment & contract terms.
• Act as the primary contact for all vendors in assigned categories.
• Meet with vendors on a consistent basis for deal negotiation and business updates.
• Attend key vendor meetings.
• Develop supplier joint business plan by leveraging scale of the organization to achieve the best possible cost of goods.
• Evaluate supplier performance.
• Communicate negotiations outcomes to divisions to enable them to plan and execute promotional events and local ads.
• Leverage data to drive all decision-making.
• Maintain weekly, quarterly, and yearly scorecards to track sales, profit, and market share of each category.
• Oversee the utilization of merchant tools to conduct category data analysis.
• Work closely with functional team members and division merchants to collect and synthesize inputs.
• Manage and maximize category(s) promotional plans to achieve most efficient use of vendor dollars for every division.
• Create sales and profit projections at the category level.
• Conduct in depth post-promotional analysis at the item and category level.
• Use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to recognize and anticipate issues and opportunities.
• Elevate analyses beyond reporting and translate insight into retail action.
• Lead the category(s) pod with Division ASMs and functional business units.
• Understand division needs and commitments and integrate these into the overall category plan.
• Work with multiple internal cross-functional teams to connect business opportunities and develop both strategic and tactical solutions.
• Cultivate team morale, motivation, and loyalty through continuous training and mentorship, setting obtainable performance goals and provides clear communication and constructive feedback.
• Develop an approach that considers associates and leaders from across the organization and draws diverse perspectives into the design recommendation.
• Foster a diverse and inclusive team and work environment and role model our culture and leadership practices.
• Demonstrate effective leadership skills and abilities.
• Develop professional materials and opportunities to train and retain merchandising talent and drive category expertise.
• Apply knowledge of leadership competency frameworks and a variety of proven practices, tools, and techniques that help leaders develop in their jobs.

Benefits

• Competitive wages paid weekly
• Access to up to 50% of your earned wages before payday, via our partnership with Stream
• Associate discounts
• Health and financial well-being benefits for eligible associates (Medical, Dental, 401k and more!)
• Time off (vacation, holidays, sick pay).
• Leaders invested in your training, career growth and development
• An inclusive work environment with talented colleagues who reflect the communities we serve

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree