SALES AND MERCHANDISING MANAGER

Sales and Merchandising ManagerDepartment: Retail FLSA Status: ExemptReports To: Jon Koontz Job Category:4 (Management)PurposeThe Sales & Merchandising Manager is responsible for driving profitable sales growth through effective merchandising purchasing advertising vendor management and commercial strategy. This position has P&L ownership and is accountable for sales gross profit margin inventory and operating profit Director serves as the primary commercial leader connecting Store Operations vendors distribution centers Finance Marketing and company leadership. The role requires a hands-on grocery retail leader who can identify opportunities negotiate effectively develop compelling sales and merchandising programs and translate strategy into measurable store-level ResponsibilitiesP&L Sales & Merchandising LeadershipOwn the P&L and develop strategies to achieve sales gross profit margin inventory and operating profit sales merchandising pricing promotional and assortment strategies based on customer demand competitive activity seasonality and financial results against budget forecast and prior year; identify performance gaps and implement corrective opportunities by store department category and item to increase customer count sales gross profit dollars and evaluate market and competitive conditions and adjust strategies Buying & PurchasingServe as the companys primary deal buyer actively identifying opportunistic purchases that can generate incremental sales and gross sourcing relationships with manufacturers brokers distributors wholesalers and other opportunities based on landed cost retail pricing margin expected movement inventory requirements distribution capabilities and overall financial pricing quantities freight payment terms allowances markdown protection and other financial product allocation and merchandising to maximize sell-through and deal performance and apply results to future buying Management & NegotiationOwn relationships and negotiations with key product costs promotional allowances rebates incentives payment terms freight advertising support and other vendor vendor business reviews focused on sales pricing service levels financial support and growth vendors accountable for agreed-upon pricing service levels promotional commitments and financial new vendors and products based on customer relevance financial potential operational requirements and strategic Allowances & ReimbursementsMaintain a disciplined process for tracking rebates promotional allowances bill-backs reimbursements credits incentives and other vendor vendor agreements and financial commitments are documented and communicated to with Finance to reconcile expected versus received funding resolve discrepancies and ensure claims and reimbursements are collected vendor funding appropriately into financial reporting forecasting and merchandising & Inventory CollaborationWork closely with internal and third-party distribution centers to align purchasing inventory product availability promotions and merchandising inventory requirements allocations deal purchases promotional quantities and seasonal address shortages overstocks discontinued items service-level issues and other inventory distribution costs and operational constraints when making purchasing and merchandising Merchandising & AssortmentDevelop and manage store merchandising programs promotional features displays seasonal programs and other sales-driving purchasing opportunities and vendor programs into clear store-level plans including featured products pricing tie-in items inventory requirements and display with Operations to ensure consistent execution and regularly visit stores to evaluate results and identify product assortment based on sales margin movement customer demand competitive positioning and local market merchandising initiatives based on sales gross profit sell-through customer response and overall P&L & Marketing StrategyOwn the advertising and promotional strategy for the market ensuring marketing activity supports customer-count sales and profitability the promotional calendar and determine key advertised items pricing themes and events in coordination with merchandising and with Marketing to execute print digital social media loyalty and in-store advertising that communicates value and drives customer advertising with merchandising plans product availability vendor programs seasonal opportunities and competitive market the use of vendor advertising funds co-op opportunities and promotional competitor advertising and promotional activity and adjust strategies as advertising effectiveness based on customer count sales lift gross profit engagement and return on marketing -Functional LeadershipServe as the key commercial link between Operations Finance Marketing Distribution vendors and store merchandising advertising purchasing and operational strategies are aligned with total market P&L priorities plans and performance expectations clearly throughout the as a member of the company leadership team and contribute to broader business planning and Performance IndicatorsPerformance will be measured primarily through:Total market P&L and operating profit performanceSales and comparable-store sales growthCustomer/transaction count growthGross profit dollar and margin performancePerformance to budget and forecastInventory turns sell-through shrink and markdownsDeal-buy and promotional performanceVendor cost improvements and funding capturedAdvertising and promotional effectivenessDistribution service levels and product availabilityStore merchandising executionQualifications7 years of progressive experience in grocery retail merchandising buying category management sales or related retail grocery buying and merchandising experience experience managing P&L performance and driving sales and gross profit success negotiating with manufacturers brokers distributors and understanding of retail pricing promotions advertising margin inventory management and category with opportunistic/deal buying strongly financial analytical negotiation and decision-making working with distribution centers and retail supply-chain leadership and communication skills with the ability to work effectively across stores vendors distribution partners and company to spend meaningful time in stores and in the market maintaining a hands-on understanding of customers competition merchandising execution and sales opportunities.