Senior Manager Product Business

UNFI is a wholesale company seeking a Senior Manager of Product Business to lead Private Brand Managers and strategic merchandising planning. The role drives category strategies, pricing, promotions, product lifecycle management, supplier relationships, financial forecasting, and cross-functional initiatives to improve growth, innovation, and operational efficiency.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage a team of Private Brand Managers, ensuring strong execution
• Motivate, coach, and develop team members to build a knowledgeable, high‑performing, and responsive organization
• Provide timely, strategic updates to the Director of Product Business Management to identify and advance business opportunities
• Build and maintain strong relationships with National and Regional Merchandising
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Regional Merchandising teams
• Lead semester planning and manage cost change processes
• Set and oversee the promotional strategy for assigned categories and review the consolidated promotional plans across the team
• Develop annual and quarterly merchandising strategies based on performance trends, consumer insights, and competitive analysis
• Recommend pricing strategies and shelving placement that maximize category performance
• Analyze and maintain a deep understanding of product cost structures to support effective financial and sourcing decisions
• Develop and execute category strategies and initiatives that support overall business goals
• Review full category assortments and development plans to ensure strategic fit and performance
• Lead the development of Category Business Plans (CBP) and facilitate category workshops
• Build consumer‑integrated business plans in partnership with vendors to drive growth and innovation
• Identify, recommend, and present optimal sources of supply and vendor selections for approval
• Oversee the full product lifecycle for items within the assigned Private Brands portfolio
• Partner cross‑functionally with Marketing, Packaging, Quality Assurance, and Product Development to launch new products and enhance existing offerings
• Partner with the National Category Manager to evaluate product lines and new item proposals
• Design and execute audits to ensure accuracy and compliance across processes
• Continuously improve processes and workflows to drive efficiency and elevate performance
• Deliver on period, quarterly, and annual financial forecasts
• Drive industry differentiation by developing new products, programs, and processes
• Monitor competitive activity and adjust category tactics accordingly
• Set, manage, and communicate quarterly sales targets for each category
• Use category scorecards and consumer insights to identify trends and ensure alignment to sales and profitability goals
• Define and assign category rules to ensure consistent execution across the team
• Provides directions to pricing specialist for price changes
• Establish strategic relations with key suppliers that lead to new consumer and industry insights
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned to support department and organizational goals

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree required in Business, Marketing, Management or related field
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to work with key stakeholders in organization to drive business results
• Has an in-depth understanding of store operations and merchandising methodologies and practices (P&L, financial management, etc.), greater depth of specific category expertise may be required on a case-by-case basis
• Strong negotiation skills with experience in category management, sourcing, private label, or CPG
• Understanding of assortment planning and category management
• Ability to lead cross functional partners including Commercialization (end to end process)
• Project Management skills and strong attention to details
• Demonstrates the ability to think analytically and solve problems through data
• Ability to influence others, negotiate, and collaborate
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Excellent spreadsheet skills (Excel) are required
• Must be capable of understanding the retail environment
• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available
• related field preferred
• MBA preferred
• 5 + years of category management experience preferred
• 8 + years of new product development experience preferred