Category Manager, Private Label

In your role as Private Label Manager, you will be accountable to define private label strategy and own the results, make sourcing and assortment decisions and drive category sales and profit growth through data driven decision-making and innovation.

The Private Label Manager uses financial data, customer research, market data, and industry information to better meet the needs of our unique consumer and to optimize financial performance through regular monitoring and innovation. As Private Label Manager you will develop, formulate, and execute tactics within the context of the overall category strategy, including assortment planning, procurement, merchandising, retail pricing advertising and promotion, as well as managing vendor relationships and supply agreements.

Your Role:

· As the Private Label Manager you are the subject matter expert for private label and build plans around category product, promotion and placement to drive financial performance.

· You will build and maintain strong relationship with suppliers to secure the most favorable terms, costs, product and quality of goods for our customers

· Developing a connection with the remote communities we serve through in-community work experience to create customer-centered business plans.

· Develop market data and our consumer behavior find innovative ways to drive performance in your category

· Develop plans with measurable objectives that includes advertising, in-store specials and special buys

· Set the initial sales, gross profit, and inventory forecasts used in developing the final operating budget and develop plans to achieve annual budgets

· Work with Merchandising Services to monitor and recommend pricing, stock levels that deliver on category performance

· Provide advice to Operations on Category opportunities.

· Provide leadership and management of initiatives to the department’s Category Assistant

Desired Skills & Experience:

· Minimum 5 years’ experience in category management is required and/or;

· Must have a post-secondary education (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree) in Commerce, Marketing or Supply Chain Management additional experience in lieu of education may be considered.

· Experience leading and managing a small team is required

· Solid experience with MS Office Suite experience including above average knowledge of Excel

· Must have demonstrated good written and verbal communication skills

· Strong analytical skills and financial analysis capabilities

· Ability to set priorities and manage priorities of the team;

· Strong problem solving skills and the ability to teach and monitor performance;

· Excellent interpersonal and management skills with strong attention to detail; and,

· Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and priorities.

Reports to: VP Merchandising