National Category Director

Albertsons Companies • Boise, ID

2d • 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.

What does it take to be successful here? 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. If that's you then what are we waiting for? Let's do this!

Requirements

• 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.
• Demonstrated success record in collaborating with multiple functional areas to achieve overall company goals which would include but not 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.
• Able to effectively lead a collaborative process with multiple stakeholders and working in a matrixed environment

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)
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience with a related degree in Business, Marketing, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Develops and manages merchandising strategy for a given category(s).
• Serves as the leader of a category pod, collaborating with and leading merchandising planning activities for assigned category(s).
• Works closely with national and division merchandising leadership to determine category strategies.
• Develops deep category expertise, including understanding of category trends, innovations, consumer preferences, nuances by geography and customer segments, and competitor activity.
• Negotiates with national suppliers on behalf of the divisions.
• Strategically manages category(s) to meet sales, profit, and market share targets at the national and division level.
• Creates and implements category strategy, pricing strategy, promotional strategy, and assortment strategy for each assigned category.
• Leads the merchandising planning process with national and division merchants within the category pod to maximize category performance.
• Serves as the company’s Subject Matter Expert (SME) for assigned category(s).
• Researches category trends, innovations, competitors, and regional preferences.
• Makes critical decisions for the category, while working with division leads and functional teams to consider division nuances and drive to the right answer.
• Conducts all company-wide negotiations with suppliers of assigned categories, including cost, assortment, funding, and replenishment & contract terms.
• Acts as the primary contact for all vendors in assigned categories.
• Meets with vendors on a consistent basis for deal negotiation and business updates.
• Develops supplier joint business plan by leveraging scale of the organization to achieve the best possible cost of goods.
• Evaluates supplier performance, working with divisions and procurement team as needed.
• Communicates negotiations outcomes to divisions to enable them to plan and execute promotional events and local ads.
• Leverages data to drive all decision-making.
• Maintains weekly, quarterly, and yearly scorecards to track sales, profit, and market share of each category.
• Oversees the utilization of merchant tools to conduct category data analysis.
• Works closely with functional team members and division merchants to collect and synthesize inputs for the merchandising planning process.
• Manages and maximizes category(s) promotional plans to achieve most efficient use of vendor dollars for every division.
• Creates sales and profit projections at the category level.
• Conducts in depth post-promotional analysis at the item and category level in preparation for the next promotional plan.
• Uses critical thinking and problem-solving skills to recognize and anticipate issues and opportunities.
• Elevates analyses beyond reporting and translates insight into retail action.
• Leads the category(s) pod with Division ASMs and functional business units.
• Understands division needs and commitments and integrates these into the overall category plan.
• Works with multiple internal cross-functional teams to connect business opportunities and develop both strategic and tactical solutions.
• Cultivates team morale, motivation, and loyalty through continuous training and mentorship, setting obtainable performance goals and provides clear communication and constructive feedback.
• Develops an approach that considers associates and leaders from across the organization and draws diverse perspectives into the design recommendation.
• Fosters a diverse and inclusive team and work environment and role models our culture and leadership practices.
• Demonstrates effective leadership skills and abilities.
• Develops professional materials and opportunities to train and retain merchandising talent and drive category expertise.
• Applies 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