Category Manager

The Fresh Pork Sales Business Unit Manager is responsible for the P&L performance and production/inventory management of their respective product categories. Candidate must possess strong analytical, decision making and interpersonal skills to drive optimization and growth within their assigned product categories. Fresh Pork Sales is seeking to maximize the value of the carcass in an environment of constant variability and change; we do this by utilizing sound judgment founded on comprehensive analysis and market intelligence.

Product Management

• Responsible for managing the overall product portfolio for assigned categories
• Collaborate with sales teams on new product ideations to drive value for assigned categories
• Responsible for evaluating all new product requests to ensure they align with category optimization and gain approval from Fresh VP
• Responsible for presenting any spec changes or new product requests to NOR team for approval
• Support commercialization team through the new product request stage gate process
• Conduct routine product cuttings comparing both Clemens Food Group product and competitor product to specification and make recommendations on any adjustments
• Collaborate and align with Operations/FSQA teams on product specifications for assigned categories
• Follow up with FSQA/Operations teams on quality and specification complaints that require higher level of attention

Value optimization & Inventory Management

• Responsible for driving margin results that exceed plan for assigned product families
• Collaborate with Operations and scheduling regarding substitution variances/conversion targets and provide direction that maximizes primal values in assigned categories
• Review monthly results vs plan for assigned product families. Determine any actions needed to address gaps and document in action log
• Collaborate with sales team to establish a trade up strategy to drive margin improvement. Monitor progress vs plan to determine on/off track
• Responsible for approving all claims (missed pricing, off condition, not shipped to spec) up to $10k
• Monitor unsold frozen inventory levels and provide direction to the sales team on what action is needed
• Review weekly distressed inventory/aging inventory report and develop action plans to address gaps
• Establish frozen inventory build plans and track against target. Develop action plans for any areas that are off track
• Review bi-weekly and monthly supply & demand plan by primal. Collaborate with Export, Retail, Food Service to optimize inventory and maximize margin.

Product Availability Management and Pricing

• Responsible for evaluating short term unsold inventory and providing direction to the sales team daily on what needs to be sold
• Responsible for evaluating future availability and providing direction to the sales team on what needs to be sold via CAPS tool
• Collaborate with materials management team to ensure supply and demand is balanced by plant. Provide direction on what action is needed to address. (Product transfers, change in ship from plant, product mix changes)
• Responsible for identifying and communicating service level challenges and developing action plan to address future gaps
• Directs scheduling of products to support sales and optimal production
• Approve price deviations from the sales team that fall below pricing minimums, work with Director if deviation exceeds parameters
• Interpret market data (USDA Daily Market Report, Economist News Letters, and Storage report) and utilize Fresh Pork Sales Team to understand market trends
• Responsible for setting daily and out front pricing guidelines for all assigned categories
• Responsible for providing pricing guidelines for all formula and program opportunities (RFPs)

Primal Strategy and Planning

• Responsible for setting the category/primal strategy and communicating goals and targets
• Collaborate with Category management team on Value added opportunities that will impact raw material availability
• Collaborate with sales team on identifying annual sales objectives that support margin growth
• Complete quarterly reforecasts for assigned areas and communicate to leadership on margin outlook and what is driving results
• Establish bottom up annual volume and margin budget for assigned categories
• Participate in annual capital planning process and make recommendations on projects that drive margin growth or improve efficiencies

Team CFG

• Participate in cross functional task forces as available
• Participate and inspire team to participate in Leadership Development Programs
• Participate in Clemens Food Group sponsored personal growth programs