Merchandising Regional Manager

Leadership

• Key liaison to Regional VP Division GMs and Sales Leadership on key product and merchandising opportunities and issues.

• Supports the strategic market share growth and product positioning of a geographic region by aligning our Vendor / Broker partner network to direct selling and educational opportunities that support the best interest of the customers we serve.

• This role ensures Division Merch Mgr engagement of the regional vendor/broker community and is responsible to develop prioritize and execute best in class partnership strategies that align with the companys long range plan and divisional goals.

• Interviews hires trains and retains staff. Conducts bi-annual performance reviews for direct reports initiating follow through with disciplinary action and termination in consultation with Human Resources.

• Ensures that personal development plans are created and actively managed by each direct report

Vision & Planning

• Assists the Director of Merchandising and Regional and Divisional Sales Leadership and the Division Merchandising Manager with the development and implementation of the Regions and Associated Divisions Annual Operating Plans to achieve corporate goals for top-line growth market share earnings RONA and brand penetration.

• Collaborates with category teams revenue management as well as marketing and sales teams to support organizational strategies category-specific strategies and divisional go-to-market strategies.

Communication & Relationship Building

• Communicates effectively with category merchandising marketing and revenue management counterparts on issues pertinent to business success including the Division key performance indicators and category management impact on performance indicators.

• Builds an effective feedback loop with regional merchandising and division marketing and sales teams related to unique market differences.

• Builds and leverages effective and collaborative relationships within sales and marketing teams by communicating regularly and by conducting ride-alongs with front-line sales and marketing employees

Support Sales & Marketing

• Provide actionable product & vendor related communication that is timely and relevant - New Items Discontinuations Item Changes Supply issues/shortages

• Provide strategic vendor & industry insights

• Understand and be responsive to division-specific sales needs related to assigned category

• Ensures category-specific regional/divisional needs are represented as an input into Category Management and CMR strategy development

Category Management

• Leads execution of category management strategies at a regional/divisional level

• Manages a regional product plan for sales net margin and brand penetration. Monitors performance versus Annual Plan and works with the category teams and vendors to take corrective action in order to assure annual plan is achieved.

• Leads the implementation of an end-to-end Category Management process at the regional level that transforms internal and external information and customer insights into a relevant product assortment net cost and pricing that increases Net Margin contribution for assigned categories.

• Collaborates with category and marketing teams to establish appropriate product assortment selection to attain Sales and Net Margin goals.

• Supports category product lifecycle management including the selection of new products (both products and product slotting locations) ensuring optimum product mix focused on defined customer needs operational efficiency and financial goals as well as product discontinuation/deletions.

• Leads regional and divisional execution of vendor & product transitions

• Leads strategies and execution of initiatives around Local and regional product/supplier needs in collaboration with category and marketing.

• Ensures all Divisions work within their slot allocation by temperature zone where applicable

Vendor Management

• Manages performance of strategic vendors and their direct sales broker support toward continuous service performance improvement as part of the overall regional strategy.

• Develops and manages business growth opportunities at the regional level with GFS Speciality Companies.

Cost/Price Management

• Responsible to ensure implementation of appropriate cost for price/national cost for each division in coordination with the Category teams and Revenue Management team

• Optimize margin while ensuring a competitive cost for price/national cost to the street for the assigned category of products at each division

Supply Chain Support

• Support escalation of supply chain disruptions caused by vendor shortages industry issues etc. in the assigned region.

• Support removal of aging inventory and liquidation decisions.

Perpetual Learning & Growth

• Develops and maintains a high level of industry and product expertise to be the primary source of knowledge for assigned categories.

• Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in the field by reading appropriate books journals and other literature and attending related conferences seminars training supplier visits etc. Maintains peer relationships in the field to share issues and ideas.

• Leverages internal and external category data and customer insights to inform decisionmaking.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

What you bring to the table:

• At least 5 years previous category management or sales and marketing related experience with an emphasis in product/category knowledge or an equivalent combination of education training and experience.

• Bachelors degree in business marketing or related field preferred.

• Proficient analytical skills to analyze and interpret data related to industry trends margin performance pricing freight rates customer needs etc

• Ability to inject creativity fresh thinking and new perspectives and to generate new and imaginative ideas.

• Proficient leadership abilities capable of motivating others and influencing direction without explicit authority.

• Proficient communication skills both written and verbal to communicate effectively with a broadbased team including diverse internal stakeholders and vendors.

• Positive attitude problemsolver mentality willingness to experiment and be creative.

• Exceptional organization skills and attention to detail

• Excellent customer service mentoring interpersonal and communication skills.

• Must be able to develop refine communicate and implement plans and to set and define goals.

• Must have category industry and segment knowledge and be able to analyze and interpret data.

• Knowledge of the principles and methods of category management sourcing and procurement cost and pricing sales and marketing metrics strategies and tactics.

• Must have good time management administration and organizational skills.

• Must be able to build relationships network influence and link resources to plan and execute business practices.

• Must have the ability to multi-task and be able to work exceptional hours including evenings and weekends and be able to take on new responsibilities with a strong desire to succeed.

• Develops solutions to complex problems that require the regular use of ingenuity and innovation. Ensures solutions are consistent with organization objectives