Category Manager

3 weeks ago

Arlington Heights, United States European Imports Full time

Job Summary:

Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing specialty/gourmet category strategy for assigned category contributing to the company's stated financial goals. This role will oversee category assortment, sourcing, pricing & promotions, sales training, and vendor relationships to ensure we have a relevant, innovative specialty/gourmet product portfolio that exceeds customer needs/demands.


Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Assortment Optimization: Develop and execute national specialty/gourmet category assortment strategy for assigned category including new product introduction, ongoing assortment review and SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) rationalization. Ensure category assortment is market relevant and priced right to Sysco Operating sites and Direct Retail Customers.
  • Category/Sales Training: Lead category training initiatives to drive category sales growth including but not limited to Sales Team training (Sales Import Specialists, Sales Support Center Team & Sales Consultants), participation in Customer facing events (European Imports – Sysco Shows & Trade Shows), leading webinars (Monthly New Item launches, Chef’s Case, etc.), Retail and National Account customer presentations.
  • Sourcing: Lead all category sourcing activities from beginning to end for assigned category including vendor/product identification and set up, cost negotiation for new and existing portfolio & inventory management to ensure continuity of supply of the right product/s at the right price. Attend industry events/shows (international and domestic) to stay ahead of trends to identify and source new to market products as well as find alternate vendors/products in case of supply issues.
  • Pricing: Review category pricing on a regular basis, identifying potential pricing issues and opportunities. Conduct detailed analysis on the impact of pricing and assortment changes and execute findings and recommendations with the approval of Marketing & Merchandising Director.
  • Vendor Management: Build, manage and maintain relationships with vendors by leading business reviews, reviewing vendor proposals, and negotiating cost of goods and PPP (Peak Performance Platform) program rates. Assess vendor performance and actively identify performance issues (E.g., Fill Rate, Food Safety and Quality concerns etc.) and provide feedback and guidance to vendors to ensure performance improvement. Act as a liaison between vendor and internal cross functional teams within European Imports to assist with projects/activities related to category including but not limited to product recalls, excess inventory reduction, promotion support and digital readiness efforts.
  • Cross Functional Collaboration: (5%)
  • Closely work with Sales, Marketing, Procurement, & Regulatory to support category growth, supply continuity and vendor compliance.
  • Collaborate with Sysco GSC counterparts with the objective of understanding critical category requirements and perspectives and ensuring that specialty category needs are represented and addressed in the overall category strategy as part of sourcing/category management initiatives (PGM events, CES launch etc.).


Education Required:

Four-year college degree in business or related field, or equivalent experience


Experience Required:

5+ years experience in food service, specialty/gourmet retail or with a consumer goods company


Experience Preferred:

7+ years experience in food service, specialty/gourmet retail or with a consumer goods company; 5+ yrs experience in vendor relations, pricing, and product assortment management and 2+ years category management experience in gourmet/specialty categories.


Technical Skills and Abilities:

  • Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills, required
  • Advanced computer skills required, proficient with MS office applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
  • Solid quantitative and analytical skills. Must possess, or be able to rapidly develop a strong knowledge of products within assigned category
  • High degree of motivation to self-direct, sound interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team setting
  • Strong business acumen and strong negotiation skills
  • Excellent organizational and project management skills, including the ability to plan, prioritize execute multiple initiatives autonomously and shift priorities as necessary


Language Requirements:

English


Physical Demands:

Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

This position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk and use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse and telephone to talk and hear. Must be able to bend, reach and stoop occasionally. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.


Travel Requirements:

Approx 30%


Work Environment:

  • Primarily office setting
  • Travel to attend company events and/or industry or vendor trade shows, both domestically and internationally
  • Noise level is usually moderate
  • May require evening and weekend work depending vendor trade show needs

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