VP Merchandising & Marketing

US Foods•Salem, VA

3d•$115,000 - $175,000

About The Position

The VP Merchandising & Marketing fosters the development, implementation, and successful execution of innovative category and go-to-market (GTM) strategies. The role leads implementation while ensuring strategies align with national category strategies and meet Area needs. It oversees Area marketing activities, customized pricing and product assortment based on customer needs, and identification of segment growth opportunities. The position manages local needs and opportunities, marketing, brand management, culinary solutions, and other specialists. Because the Area includes multiple sites, including Hub and market distribution centers, the role requires virtual leadership across sales volume and the labor force. The role partners with corporate and regional personnel, directs merchandising and sales support activities across Area locations, and monitors performance, category initiatives, market trends, and Area profit and loss goals. It leads GTM execution, assortment and pricing decisions, vendor relationships, promotions, onboarding processes, specialist teams, and the Area marketing budget. The role may require overnight travel for training, meetings, or other company events.

Requirements

Four-year college degree in business or a related field, or equivalent related field experience.
Management experience and a minimum of 10 years of category management, marketing, and/or purchasing experience.
Excellent management, negotiation, verbal communication, written communication, quantitative, and analytical skills.
Demonstrated ability to use influence, persuasion, and effective negotiation to further goals.
Ability to work in a team setting, drive organizational transformations, and support change management.
Ability to provide fact-based recommendations across management levels that result in buy-in and improved category performance.
Self-directed and highly motivated, with strong business acumen, sound interpersonal skills, and excellent presentation skills.
Ability to communicate efficiently with multiple levels in the organization.
Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Proven leadership experience managing direct reports.
Ability to operate successfully within a matrix organization and work effectively with multiple groups.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the foodservice or food manufacturing industries is preferred.
Experience collaborating in a functional matrixed environment and providing virtual leadership across multiple sites is ideal.
Prior experience with Microsoft Access is a plus.

Responsibilities

Partner with corporate and regional personnel to develop customized merchandising, marketing, and category strategies for the assigned Area.
Lead merchandising field support within the Area Hub based in the distribution centers and partner with Area Replenishment leadership to coordinate consistent execution across multiple sites.
Oversee implementation of day-to-day Area initiatives, including assortment changes, marketing events, and pricing changes, to drive sales performance and GP3.
Monitor Area performance, category initiatives, segmentation, sales performance, and localized and national market trends; adjust strategy to align with US Foods strategies and local Area needs.
Coordinate with the Sr Dir Performance Optimization to oversee deployment of plays to poor-performing markets and their turnaround, and share best practices from better-performing markets.
Direct department activities to achieve Area profit and loss goals, including oversight of purchase allowances and cash discounts, and maximize profitable sales growth through assortment, pricing, and marketing.
Manage go-to-market strategies to drive sales, profit, and net new account growth.
Prioritize Area category initiatives, coordinate execution resources, and lead Area-wide implementation.
Manage relationships with Area-specific vendors and coordinate funding with regional and local suppliers.
Monitor and review product assortment across categories to reduce duplicate and underperforming SKUs; review and approve new-to-Area and exception SKUs, provide performance feedback, align with category strategy, and drive EB penetration across the Area customer base.
Manage the Area Pricing Manager and oversee the deviation process and margin management; negotiate or assist with negotiation of vendor-funded deviations.
Work with Sales to plan and facilitate local promotions, customer events, and marketing activities; manage Area marketing communications and branding in alignment with national category strategy.
Plan and review the Area marketing budget and allocate funds across the Area.
Assist with development, execution, and ongoing maintenance of the Area training schedule.
Serve as a key point of contact for new-customer onboarding, one-off bids for existing customers, and requests through the Area’s Save-Our-Sales program.
Coordinate new-customer onboarding and exit processes.
Manage and coordinate sales-based activities and direction of sales solutions and other Area-specific specialists, including Chemical and Beverages, Culinary Equipment and Supplies, and related functions.
Manage and direct the sales support team.