Purpose:
The Director, Merchandising is responsible for leading a defined merchandising portfolio, driving category performance, vendor relationships, and commercial execution to deliver sales growth, margin performance, and retailer success. This role is accountable for portfolio-level P&L performance, including revenue, gross margin, cost of goods, and vendor funding utilization across an assigned group of categories. The Director translates merchandising strategies into effective pricing, assortment, and promotional execution to achieve targeted business outcomes. The Director operates within a moderate to high level of complexity, managing a focused set of categories and suppliers. This role emphasizes execution excellence, consistent performance, executive communication skills and effective team leadership within a defined scope of responsibility.
Job Responsibilities:
Core Responsibilities
- Lead performance across an assigned category portfolio, including sales, margin, vendor funding, and inventory productivity
- Execute category strategies through pricing, assortment, and promotional decisions to drive growth and profitability
- Monitor performance and implement actions to address gaps and improve results
- Manage vendor relationships, negotiations, and funding optimization to maximize category performance
- Partner with Procurement to improve cost structure and overall profitability
- Oversee execution of merchandising and promotional programs, ensuring alignment with category strategy and customer needs
- Evaluate program effectiveness and implement enhancements
- Own category financial performance, including P&L delivery, pricing, cost management, and trade spend utilization
- Ensure compliance with financial policies and controls
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align strategy and execution across Sales, Marketing, Finance, Procurement, and Operations
- Support communication of category priorities and serve as a point of escalation as needed
- Engage with retailers and monitor market trends to inform category decisions and enhance customer outcomes
- Drive operational excellence by ensuring accuracy in pricing, assortment, and vendor programs
- Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and execution quality
- Lead and develop team members by setting clear expectations, building capability, and fostering a high-performing culture
Performs other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements:
Education/Certifications:
- Bachelor's Degree preferred
Experience:
- 6-10 years of experience in merchandising, category management, or related field
- Experience managing vendor relationships, pricing, and promotional execution
- Leadership experience across multiple categories or business areas
- Grocery, wholesale, or CPG experience preferred
Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities:
- Strong understanding of merchandising, pricing, and category management
- Solid financial acumen with experience managing category or portfolio performance
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive execution
- Effective leadership and team development skills
- Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication capabilities
- Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.
Work Environment:
Remote Role:
This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.
Travel (minor):
This position may require the associate to travel to company offices, distribution centers, or other locations for specific meetings or other business reasons.
#LI-remote
Compensation: UNFI anticipates paying the above-referenced pay rate (or within the above-referenced pay range) for this position. Actual Pay, where applicable, will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements. UNFI is committed to transparency in pay in compliance with applicable state and local laws.
Benefits: For Washington positions (or positions that may be performed remotely from Washington), https://www.unfi.com/jobs-more-info-wa.html for Washington-specific paid time off details.
Candidates hired into this position will also be eligible to participate in the following benefits programs: Paid Time Off; Sick Time; paid holidays and parental leave; 401K Program; medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death/dismemberment insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance program, Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Savings Account, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of these programs, and subject to any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements.
UNFI's compensation, benefits, and paid time off policies are subject to change in the Company's sole discretion, consistent with applicable law. This job posting should not be construed as an offer of employment with certain terms, nor should it be construed as a guaranteed minimum.
Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act .
