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**Retail Category Specialist**

Chicago, Illinois / Operations / Full Time Food Rocket is a San Francisco-based FoodTech startup that provides the fastest grocery delivery in the US, promising door-to-door delivery within 10-15 minutes of placing an order. Its business model is based on AI-enabled technologies to manage inventory, forecast demand, and optimize delivery time by predicting the closest micro fulfillment center that offers the fastest delivery time and the lowest fulfillment and delivery cost. The startup is competing with the biggest players in the market DoorDash, GoPuff, Amazon Fresh, InstaCart.

**JOB DESCRIPTION:** We are looking for experts who aim to maximize profit in a retail category by providing the correct product assortment at the right time. You understand the local market in the San Francisco area or Chicago in terms of food suppliers, pricing, etc. It would be great if you have a network and can help us to choose the right vendors.

**RESPONSIBILITIES:** - Vendor management: Build relationships with suppliers and negotiate pricing, delivery, and payment terms, all of which can affect the retail profit margin of the products. - Assortment planning: Planning the product range and deciding which products should be added and/or eliminated from the range. - Product pricing: The target market of each store must be analyzed to ensure that the correct product range is chosen to suit their price needs. - Inventory Control: Days of supply are considered to ensure that a product has enough facings on a shelf to avoid out of stocks and overly stocked products.

**QUALIFICATIONS:** - Bachelors degree in business, retailing, management, sales, or marketing preferred. Any Bachelor's degree required. - 2-4 years of Buying/FMCG experience (specifically in product purchasing, inventory control and supplier/vendor relationships). - Full competency in Microsoft Office/Google Docs. - Market knowledge related to products, consumer needs and the retail environment. - Knowledge of category management principles. - Knowledge of buying systems and processes. - Must operate independently, but within the confines of a team. - Proven negotiating skills, influencing abilities and relationship management experience. - Strong organizational skills including prioritizing, scheduling, time management, and meeting deadlines. - Strong analytical skills. - Problem-solving skills. - Critical thinking. - Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

**PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:** - Ability to think both strategically and tactically with strong attention to details. - Strong analytical and quantitative skills; experience using data and metrics to test theories, confirm assumptions, and measure success. - Proven ability to identify, analyze, and solve ambiguous problems independently. - Proven track record of taking ownership and driving results. - Completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree or taking some postgraduate courses can provide an advantage over other candidates, especially if the field of study is in merchandising or retail management. - Obtaining certification through the Category Management Association can be an advantage during the hiring process. - Additional experience with product purchasing, financial analysis, and inventory in the retail environment is beneficial.