Responsibilities

• Oversee the design, development, and deployment of new / enhanced offers including equipment selection and procurement, product and ingredient selection, supply chain, food safety, labor, operations standards and compliance, and waste.
  
  • Lead category management of the various offers including product assortment, pricing, placement, and promotions.
  • Partner with Retail Operations, Marketing, IT, and Finance to advance category-related initiatives, including pricing, promotions, technology, and operational compliance.
  • Manage and grow relationships and lead negotiations with external vendors and partners, including branded / franchised Food Service partners, as well as equipment suppliers. Manage delivery of sales and operational commitments to Parkland’s Food Service vendors, including its branded and franchised partners.
  • Responsible for strategy, analysis, execution and performance of the Food Service categories, which includes food (i.e., proprietary / branded / franchised for different day parts for different occasions such as hot food, bakery, or sandwiches) and dispensed beverages (i.e. coffee, frozen, fountain).
  • Meet or exceed budget for Food Service P&L including sales, gross margin, labor, and waste. Develop and execute plans and programs to support in-year and long-term sales and margin objectives, spanning product assortment, pricing, and promotions. Design and manage programs for both Parkland’s company and dealer operations.
  • Develop / evolve category strategy for Food Service including analysis, planning, and implementation to align with Parkland’s broader retail and store merchandising strategies.
  • Collect and synthesize proprietary and third-party consumer, product, market, and competitive intelligence as to be a “leading expert” on Food and Dispensed beverages in the US.

Communications

• Collaborate with Retail Food Service Operations on design, development, and deployment of new / enhanced products including equipment selection and procurement, product and ingredient selection, supply chain, food safety, labor, operations standards and compliance, and waste.
• Support design of operating procedures and deployment of training materials for new and existing Food Service programs (e.g., food safety, ordering, receiving, storing, preparing, and serving).
• Partner with Retail Operations, Marketing, IT, and Finance to advance category-related initiatives, including pricing, promotions, technology, and operational compliance.
• Establish and grow relationships, lead negotiations, and manage commitments to vendors and partners, including branded and franchised partners.
• Prepare memos, presentations, and other communications for review and approval by Parkland’s senior management and leadership team.
• Ability to travel and work flexible shifts during store openings
• Employee must demonstrate safe work and risk management practices. Communicate and enforce all safety and security issues. Report and process all employee and/or customer incidents or unsafe acts in accordance with Parkland USA policy and procedure.
• Employee is expected to set priorities and meet deadlines. Employee is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments, resolving conflicts that arise, informing and coordinating with others as expected. Employee is accountable for ensuring the technical accuracy of their work and maintaining good working relations, both internal and external to Parkland USA. Self-direction and motivation are also expected.
• Must meet performance expectations. Must complete all duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• At least ten years of food service experience including category and product management of food, as well as hot and cold dispensed beverages demonstrating: strong category management, marketing, operational, financial, consultative, and communication skills; leadership in defining and implementing projects; a proven record of positive business results; and an increasing level of responsibility.
• A deep understanding of food and dispensed beverage offers, programs, equipment, ingredients, menu development, operations, strategy, reporting, systems, tools and knowledge of consumers, competitors, and market intel.
• Ability to manage and motivate functional teams responsible for strategy, operations, and special projects related to Food Service, including Merchandising, Operations, Marketing, IT, and Finance.
• Strong operational and financial acumen, and analytical ability to guide day-to-day decisions.
• Driven to improve the skillset of employees for both the benefit of Parkland and individual career development.
• Strong ability in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and other tools.

Optional:

• Gas station and convenience store experience is an asset.
• University degree in related field is an asset.