Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- Participate in the development and lead the execution of the company’s business strategy for all assigned categories.
- Drive revenue/margin growth through effective product selection, merchandising and marketing/promotion.
- Develop and maintain successful partnerships with vendors to yield optimal financial performance within assigned categories.
- Participate in vendor negotiations to secure favorable contact terms and product costs to promote competitive pricing and margins.
- Regularly conduct research to identify industry trends and prepare and present business cases for adding new products/brands where it makes sense.
- Develop and communicate marketing/promotional/merchandising plans to store operations and help ensure their successful execution.
- Oversee the company’s Pricebook operation, including the timely and accurate entry of data, research and resolution of exceptions/discrepancies/errors and the reporting and analysis of Pricebook data.
- Other duties as assigned by management.
Experience and Education:
Required:
- Minimum 2 years of previous experience in category management, purchasing/procurement or related field
- Previous experience with negotiating vendor agreements
- Previous experience in managing retail data or Pricebook
- Previous experience working with POS systems
- Strong analytical skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Must have strong attention to detail
- Demonstrated competency in mathematics
- Prior, demonstrated experience with Microsoft office, including Microsoft Excel and Outlook
- Ability to effectively manage time, organize, prioritize tasks/projects and multi-task
- Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Ability to work and think independently as well as to operate effectively as part of a team.
Preferred:
- Bachelor’s degree in business management, marketing or a related field
- Previous experience managing cigarettes, tobacco and OTP categories
- Previous experience within the c-store industry
- Previous experience with PDI ERP systems
- Previous project management experience
Essential Physical Requirements:
- Some local travel by car
- Must be able to sit/stand up for up to a full 8-hour shift, in the performance of the position
- Must be able to work with minimal supervision and under stressful and changing conditions and priorities
- Must be able to use a desktop and lap top computer as well as mobile device and desk phone to accomplish duties
- Must be able to work varied hours/days as business dictates