Job Summary:Responsible for managing and providing leadership to all aspects of assigned category including but not limited to sales, merchandising, item development, pricing, cost, sourcing, quality, marketing, and overall profitability. Develops and executes category management and merchandising business plans.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:- Carries out management responsibilities including interviewing, hiring, training and developing partners; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining partners; scheduling, addressing complaints and resolving problems. Works in conjunction with upper management to determine pay; and budget for department.
- Directly supervises at least two or more full time (or equivalent) employees.
- Manages assigned category by building relationships with suppliers, monitoring inventory and merchandising efforts, and developing and executing business plans.
- Studies market analysis of consumer trends, competitive pressures, best practices, and changing demographics to establish product pricing for retail stores.
- Oversees the procurement of category merchandise according to price deals and forecasted replenishment quantities.
- Gains industry knowledge by attending trade shows, visiting competitive market locations, and touring supplier production facilities.
- Evaluates merchandising schematics and spacing of product location in stores to determine needed adjustments of product displays. Verifies presence and accuracy of price tags and ad signage.
- Works closely with corporate communications personnel to develop category-specific communications for upcoming promotions and issues regarding product availability.
- Conducts category review meetings with suppliers to negotiate prices, address issues concerning current products, and evaluate opportunity to introduce new items in stores.
- Develops plans to integrate items into Company advertisements and store displays. Works with category management personnel to confirm item selection, cost, and listed ad price.
- Resolves disputes between vendors, government inspectors, and Company quality control standards.
- Remains active in the planning and logistics of distribution to ensure delivery timing and product freshness are aligned with Company product quality standards.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:- Advanced knowledge of assigned category products and vendors.
- Intermediate mathematical skills.
- Intermediate knowledge of SAP reporting applications preferred.
- Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Access, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint.
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships with vendors throughout the world.
- Ability to effectively negotiate with vendors.
- Ability to communicate effectively in written and verbal form with partners, customers, and vendors.
- Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage time.
- Ability to prepare reports and business correspondence.
- Ability to show information in presentation or diagram form.
- Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret information.
- Ability to reason, form concepts and recognize and solve problems.
- Ability to research information, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive information.
- Ability to learn new technology systems, methods and processes.
- Ability to occasionally travel to off-site and out-of-town locations with possible overnight stays.
- Ability to work flexible schedules including nights, weekends and holidays.
- Must be attentive to potential hazards and remedy or place appropriate warning signs or devices around or near the hazard as soon as is reasonably possible.
- Must report any potential hazards that cannot be immediately remedied to a supervisor.
Education, Experience and Qualifications:- Bachelor's Degree in related field and six or more years of related experience required.
- Partners must be 21 years of age or older to drive for Company business in accordance with the BGC Business Driver Policy.
Physical Demands:- Continuously required to use close vision, distance vision, depth perception or the ability to focus.
- Frequently required to talk and hear.
- Frequently required to use hands for reaching, touching or handling.
- Frequently required to use fine finger movements (ex. sorting and typing).
- Frequently required to sit for long periods of time.
- Occasionally required to push, pull, maneuver or lift objects up to 40 lbs.
- Occasionally required to bend, kneel or squat.
- Occasionally required to stand or walk.
- Occasionally required to drive.
- Attendance at work is required.
Work Context and Environment:- Work is generally performed in an office environment with occasional visits to retail stores and Company warehouse.
- Occasionally exposed to extreme cold conditions (non-weather).
- Occasionally exposed to wet, slippery or damp conditions.
- Quiet to moderate noise level.
