OB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Sales & Planning.

• Manages, improves and recommends the product assortment for the stores on a

national basis for assigned category.

• Develops annual category plans which include current situation analysis, vision/strategy, and specific category plans.

• Plans include assortment and positioning, product improvements and development plans, projected revenues and gross profit, display, price, promotion

and communication to stores.

• Drill plans down into seasonal calendars, monthly implementation plans and recurring assortment change calendars.

• Performs monthly analysis and verification of plans.

• Provides explanations for variances in budgeted sales and gross profit and provides projection for upcoming months.

• Develops an in-depth understanding of the key strategic initiatives and policies of

merchandising and ensures assigned category strategies are within Merchandising and Corporate strategy and policy.

• Develops pricing strategy for assigned categories.

• Develops recommended retail pricing guidelines (which are subject to executive

committee approval) for the stores to optimize category profitability and establishes suggested retail prices within these guidelines.

• Reviews competitor pricing information gathered by Zone Merchandising Leaders, Merchandisers and pricing group and recommends pricing.

• Approves pricing recommendations made by Associate Category Manager.

• Works with Marketing Department on advertising/promotions for assigned category.

• Works on POP, co-op agreements and promotion timetables and strategies.

• Develops cost/benefit analysis to determine return on advertising and promotional dollars. Vendor or Supplier Relationships / Supply Chain Management.

• Identifies leverage opportunities with vendors and negotiates contracts (working with Procurement), supply agreements and/or programs to achieve the lowest possible acquisition costs (cost of goods) for products selected for the categories on an ongoing basis.

• Identifies new suppliers to distribute products through CDC and works with Logistics and Procurement in negotiating quality expectations, reduced product costs, etc with supplier at the senior management level.

• Works with suppliers and/or other SEI managers to stabilize product supply through forecasting of key products and working with Logistics to solve issues.

• Reviews and works with Logistics group and manufacturers to resolve out-of-stock issues.

• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with representatives and senior management of national suppliers.

• Meets with national vendors on a regular basis to discuss new product development and ways to lower costs.

• Works with Logistics and Senior Management of key suppliers to ensure that we are meeting our goals with regard to Business Transformation and other Logistics model priorities for 7-Eleven (this includes strategic initiatives based on the product(s)' current method of distribution and potential recommended changes.) Assortment / Display management (including POP / Customer messaging).

• Owns the strategic Product Assortment direction and guidelines for assigned categories.

• Guides Category Manager, Associate Category Managers and Merchandisers in the development of the schematics.

• Gathers input from the Merchandisers into regional assortment needs.

• Performs narrowing (SKU rationalization) of assigned categories and works with

suppliers to narrow products supplied to stores.

• Manages the product develop process for assigned categories (including Team

Merchandising)

• Manages the implementation of field tests for new products and categories.

• Oversees verification of tests performed by Merchandisers and determines next course of action based upon verification results.

• Reviews solicitations from potential suppliers to determine if potential product is viable for 7-Eleven.

• Conduit for communication.

• As lead for the assigned categories, owns communication of key strategic initiatives across Merchandising Senior leadership Zone Leaders and other key leadership positions.

• Manages day to day communication of key messaging to assigned categories across Merchandising, Marketing, Operations, Logistics and other related groups.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors/4 year degree.

• 5 years experience.

• Strong analytical skills.

• Effective communication.

• Negotiating experience