Associate Category Manager – Commodity Beef

Role Overview

• Manage and provide detailed analysis of assigned category performance including growth objectives.
• Analysis will focus on the areas of product assortment, pricing, promotions, new product introductions, and pricing changes.
• Maintain regular reports to track performance and identify impact of variables on category performance against established metrics.
• Identify and report on trends, changes and opportunities.
• Provide suggestions aimed at increasing category performance.
• Manage and maintain relationships with vendors leading product reviews, identification and assessment of opportunities and negotiating promotions for conferences.
• Negotiate with vendors who currently do not have in-place agreements with US Foods.
• Review and assess vendor performance reports, identify issues and provide recommendations to Category Manager.
• Conduct product assortment review and analysis, identifying top-performing SKUs by division and region.
• Identify areas for potential growth and analyze impact of proposed assortment changes.
• Recommend changes and actions aimed at enhancing category effectiveness and performance.
• Review category pricing reports on a regular basis, identifying potential pricing issues and opportunities.
• Conduct a detailed analysis on the impact of pricing and assortment changes and provide findings and recommendations to the Category Manager.
• Support the category by developing category specific communications, including product launch support materials.
• Maintain close relations with US Foods regions and divisions with the objective of understanding critical requirements and perspectives and ensuring that their needs are addressed in the overall category strategy.
• Liaise with divisions to resolve escalated merchandising issues.

Requirements

• 3 years of Category Management or related experience in retail, food service or with a consumer goods company.
• Experience in vendor relations, pricing and management of product assortment.
• Ability to operate successfully in a matrix environment and work effectively across multiple groups and levels.
• Solid quantitative and analytical skills and the ability to work in a team setting.
• Possess, or be able to rapidly develop, a strong knowledge of products within assigned category and division sales requirements.
• Ability to provide fact-based recommendations across various levels of management.
• High degree of motivation, ability to prioritize and self-direct, strong business acumen and sound interpersonal skills.
• Strong verbal, written and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Microsoft Outlook.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Pre-tax spending accounts
• Retirement benefits
• Paid time off
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Life insurance
• Annual incentive plan bonus up to 10%