Position Summary:

The Produce Associate Category Manager supports category strategies by managing vendor relationships, analyzing data for profitable sales, monitoring pricing plans, and ensuring accurate promotional activities. Responsibilities include regular assortment reviews and leading product selection for the category, with a goal of maximizing sales and profitability. Additional responsibilities include promotional planning, eCommerce merchandising planning, and managing vendor relationships for the assigned category. The ideal candidate has experience in merchandising, including product sourcing and selection, eCommerce site selling strategies, and the grocery supply chain, and is interested in joining a team of passionate food experts at FreshDirect.

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for supporting the achievement of the category strategies and initiatives through relationship management of vendors, data collection, and analysis
• Leverages data to drive profitable sales.
• Monitor performance of the base and promotional pricing plan
• Collaborates with the Pricing and Site Merchandising team to ensure that promotional strategies drive awareness, trial, and repeat in the category
• Detect, research, and correct data errors within the product hierarchy
• Ensure accuracy and alignment to category and business strategy for promotional activity.
• Perform category reviews and other assessments specifically related to assortment decisions, driving relevant assortment choices to maximize competitive advantage in the market and drive category performance.
• Create category deep dive to understand opportunity gaps and performance vs. ROM. Provide recommendation and execute on assortment gap closures by identifying top performing brands by sales dollar/volume size along with growth trends.
• Evaluate/summarize potential sales gain/loss on new items/deletes for category reset
• Prepare Pre/Post Reset report to recap changes to categories and measure performance
• Assists with site merchandising planning, assortment decisions, cost negotiations, promotional planning, and product and program development
• Responsible for the accuracy and validation of vendor-submitted deals
• Work closely with Operations to prevent, track and fix short and longer-term challenges.
• SKU creation project management including data collection, entry, and form submission. Liaise with the SKU creation team to ensure scheduled launch of new SKUs.
• Daily purchase order reconciliation of product received vs ordered, address any discrepancies, and liaise with Receiving, vendors and Accounts Payable
• May include some purchasing
• Write and manage purchase orders for vendors
• Maintain and update SAP source and requisition configuration based on vendor settings.
• Follow up with vendors and merchant teams on product deliveries, out of stock issues, and pricing issues.
• Schedule and resolve goods pickups, returns and credits with vendors and accounting departments.
• Validate vendor invoices to ensure correct purchasing price and quantities are issued.
• Work with warehouse teams to ensure products are received timely and accurately, and trouble shoot delivery and receiving issues.
• Engage with merchants and demand planning to forecast and replenish in accordance with promotional plans, key holidays, seasonal transitions, and allocations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills including presentation skills
• Analytically-minded with strong organizational skills
• Excellent attention to detail and exceptional follow-through
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, particularly in Excel
• Some project management experience, and an ability to manage mid-sized projects
• 2-5 years’ experience in Grocery Retail, eCommerce, or related industry
• A passion for Produce is a must!

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Scope: Works within their function, and occasionally participates in cross-functional projects
• Autonomy: General direction required from manager or leads
• Competencies: Communicates Effectively; Nimble Learning; Business, Technical, and Financial Acumen

• Problem solver with excellent communication and organizational skills
• Adept at working in a fast-paced and ever-changing work environment, with an appetite for continuous learning
• Strong follow-up skills in managing requests and projects that span several weeks
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively
• High level of enthusiasm, initiative, and solution driven mindset

• A true passion for food is a must!

Who is FreshDirect:

In 2023, FreshDirect officially become a part of the Getir family! This strategic partnership combines FreshDirect's diverse product portfolio and expansive customer base with Getir's renowned expertise in ultrafast grocery delivery and cutting-edge technology.
Getir, well-known for its lightning-fast grocery delivery services, is set to enhance FreshDirect's infrastructure with its technological prowess. By leveraging Getir's rapid delivery approach, FreshDirect aims to redefine the future of grocery delivery in the United States.

Why choose FreshDirect?

We're a company that thrives on teamwork. Our evolution is driven by our passionate employees and investment in perfecting the technology that lets us deliver the highest-quality food. Our state-of-the-art facility creates an environment for innovation. We support our employees with on-the-job training for plant employees and drivers, team-building activities, workplace recognition opportunities, and by encouraging direct relationships with our suppliers in the field.

Great people deserve great perks. We offer comprehensive benefits, plus many workplace extras, including:

• 15 PTO days
• Company paid holidays
• 401k (5% match after 60 days)
• 20% off at freshdirect.com and significant markdowns at our employee market
• 24-hour access to the FreshDirect shuttle between our Bronx headquarters and the subway
• Regular events and barbecues for employees

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Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the Team member(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of individuals in this position. Position Descriptions may be subject to change as the needs of the organization change.

As an EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, FreshDirect does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of their race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, marital status, veteran status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, or on any other basis prohibited by law. Furthermore, FreshDirect will not discriminate against any applicant or employee because they are disabled, a disabled veteran, or a veteran of the Vietnam era, provided they are qualified and meets the requirements established by FreshDirect for the job.

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