Description
Develops category goals & strategies and product assortments through the lens of our core customer, ensuring a strong mix of national brand product relevance, best-in-class local product relevance, and best-in-class private label product relevance - distinguishing Whole Foods Market from our competition. Responsible for business financial performance, developing strategies that drive profitable sales through data-rich, customer centric assortment selection, product development, pricing, presentation, and promotion. Collaborates and works closely with Merchandising Planning, Merchandise Operations, Procurement, Distribution, Quality Assurance, Marketing, Regional Leadership, and our Suppliers to most effectively deliver on category goals and strategies.
Responsibilities
- Accountable for the financial performance of an assigned category or category area through pre-season strategy and planning.
- Develops category strategy for less complex categories based on financial expectations, category role, category performance, customer and product trends, competitive landscape and WFM differentiators.
- Develops and executes category assortment plan including supplier line reviews, assortment analysis, internal stakeholder collaboration,
item planning and forecasting.
- Contributes to category price strategy development and helps ensure development of financially sound and value adding pricing tactics.
- Works with suppliers / vendors to obtain information about new trends and products,
potential new items,
competitor practices,
and other factors that may impact category analysis
and planning.
- Works to ensure effective integration of branded / exclusive programs into overall category strategies.
- Partners with support teams to ensure category execution (e.g. new item set up
and planogramming).
- Analyzes category performance,
trends,
and competitive assortment
and pricing.
- Engages with suppliers to ensure early insight into trends
and products; early
and exclusive access
to new items; differentiated products,
merchandising
and promotions
and competitive costs.
- Leverages data-driven analyses
and insights to support / lead negotiations with current
and potential suppliers.
- Supports marketing
and promotional events / initiatives.
- Works with business partners to identify,
develop,
and implement meaningful
and measurable testing opportunities.
- Translates
and analyzes complex data,
ensuring timely
and effective communication
with all levels of the organization.
- Leverages data-driven analyses
 to support / lead negotiations
 with current
 or potential suppliers.
- Documents learning history for company-wide application.
- Uses analytics
 to define
  drive goals
 of the team
  organization.
- Supports
 positively influences/negotiates team
 financial goals
 ,product mix
 ,business relationships
 ,innovation needs
 team culture .
- Communicates
  collaborates
  key cross-functional stakeholders
  co-lead program/project development
  ensure effective execution .
- Supports ensures effective alignment
    supply chain/logistics activities .
In the area of Exclusive Brands:
- Leads project management
new product development lifecycle (Ideation-RFP BA Launch).
May partner with logistics on forecasting
optimizing distribution
supply chain network .
May collaborate
legal counsel reviewing commenting legal documents/agreements (i.e PLVA).
Leverages knowledge experience refined instinct engage/influence leadership
category vision development; ensures vision balances both customer industry perspectives .
Ensures vision supports higher-level objectives encompasses breadth forward-looking insight .
Provides coaching mentoring for new TMs .
Serves as resource WFM capabilities captainships .
Skills
Knowledge of retail business including all aspects pricing merchandising retail operations financial analysis reporting .
Comfortable working cross-functionally across geographies where results based cooperation influence others .
Solid change management skills demonstrates flexibility perform dynamic environment .
Creative problem-solving skills maturity handle ambiguity .
Ability multitask across projects simultaneously .
Ability work well fast under pressure .
Well versed implementation use various retail software solutions .
Intermediate advanced skills Microsoft Office applications .
CM: Builds Category Management skill set proficiency . EB: Builds EB New Product Development Management skill set proficiency Utilizes knowledge recommend decisions actions Makes item decisions independently but may leverage team leader final call key decisions Proficient pulling financial reports analyzing business trends assessing underlying drivers results Understands financial goals guidelines Able compare business established targets develop plans quantify initiatives monitor progress Assesses audience needs clearly communicates written verbal mediums Able hold supplier meetings independently .
Education & Experience
BA/BS degree 4–6 years’ relevant experience OR equivalent combination education relevant experience.
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