Senior Category Manager

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for optimizing merchandising strategies and maximizing profitability? We are looking for a Senior Category Manager to lead our retail initiatives, ensuring a robust product offering, effective marketing, and strong vendor relationships.
If you have a knack for market research, negotiation skills, and a keen eye for detail, join us in shaping the success of Friendship Food Stores! Your Impact: As the Senior Category Manager, you will be instrumental in shaping our retail landscape.
From fuel pricing to strategic marketing plans, you will play a key role in driving sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
Your responsibilities include working with vendors, managing loyalty programs, and overseeing social media initiatives.
Fuel Pricing: Strategic Planning: Collaborate with the VP of Retail to set company plans for retail product offerings, including contractual relationships, acceptable cost prices, and inventory level commitments.
Vendor Relations: Work directly with product vendors to evaluate performance, negotiate terms, and plan special promotions.
Evaluate new products, margin opportunities, and fit with store profiles.
Pricebook Management: Work with the Pricebook Administrator to evaluate activities, understand issues, and resolve Pricebook-related matters.
C-Store Merchandise Management: Retail Planning: Set overall strategies for product lines, vendor relationships, and acceptable cost prices.
Plan special promotions, negotiate terms, and work on implementation with Retail Operations.
New Product Evaluation: Work with vendor representatives on evaluating and introducing new products, assessing margin opportunities, and ensuring a fit with store profiles.
Pricebook Collaboration: Collaborate with the Pricebook Administrator, addressing issues, understanding concerns, and resolving Pricebook-related challenges.
Retail Marketing & Merchandising: Budget Planning: Establish an annual marketing, advertising, and promotions budget.
Understand vendor co-op programs and requirements.
Event Coordination: Develop a Retail Event Calendar, plan vendor-sponsored events, and coordinate activities with special pricing and promotional programs for all stores.
Store Presentation: Regularly evaluate store merchandise, point of sale promotions, and overall store presentation.
Implement upgrades in signage, POS materials, and product merchandising.
Promotion Programs: Define and implement company special promotions for specific product lines, coordinate necessary Pricebook changes, and evaluate program results for adjustments.
4.
Loyalty and Social Media: Loyalty Program Growth: Work with the VP of Retail to grow the Friendship Rewards Loyalty Program.
Develop promotional materials, monitor results, and solicit vendor funding.
Social Media Oversight: Collaborate with the Loyalty & Brand Manager to facilitate and oversee all company social media networks.
5.
Strategic Marketing Plans/Market Research: Marketing Strategies: Create and implement strategic marketing and merchandising strategies based on buying trends and consumer demographics.
Market Research: Plan and conduct market research to identify opportunities for increased sales, source new products, and stay knowledgeable about market trends and competitor pricing.
Product and Category Financial Analysis: Performance Tracking: Track product performance through sales, profit, and return analysis.
Conduct regular financial analysis of the retail product portfolio and communicate findings to senior management.
Metrics Reporting: Track and report performance metrics of product categories and post-audit promotions to determine success and make necessary adjustments.
Skills and Competencies: Store Optimization: Focus on the implementation and upkeep of store-specific Plan-O-Grams and Floor Plans.
Vendor Collaboration: Ability to work with product vendors, evaluate merchandise, and negotiate product supply programs.
Travel Capability: Ability to travel to multiple store locations.
Computer Proficiency: Ability to operate computers and reporting systems (e.
g.
, Ruby POS, Back Office System, Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
Communication Skills: Good verbal and written communication skills.
Negotiation Skills: Ability to negotiate agreements favorable to the company.
Strategic Vision: A strategic visionary with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and a strong marketing and merchandising focus.
Relationship Building: Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with other management staff, employees, and the general public.
Project Management: Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
5+ years of convenience store experience.
Substantial knowledge of C-Store operations and marketing with a thorough understanding of current practices and procedures.
Honesty, integrity, and a strong desire to succeed.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to create and maintain cooperative team-building relationships.
Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
Proficient with Microsoft Office.
Willingness to "roll up his sleeves" and do what is necessary to get the job done.
Current valid Driver’s License.