Category Manager

Summary: Plans, organizes, and manages an assigned group of categories to optimize sales, profit and meets marketing, financial, and corporate growth objectives by performing the following duties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following, but is not limited to:

Competency: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches internal and external syndicated data; uses intuition and experience to complement data; designs work flows and procedures.

Design - Demonstrates attention to detail.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Project Management - Develops project plans; coordinates projects; completes projects on time and budget; manages project team activities.

Technical Skills - assesses own strengths and weaknesses; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; shares expertise with others.

Customer Service - manages difficult or emotional customer situations; responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.

Interpersonal - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in meetings.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.

Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; communicates changes effectively; builds commitment and overcomes resistance; prepares and supports those affected by change; monitors transition and evaluates results.

Delegation - Delegates work assignments; matches the responsibility to the person; gives authority to work independently; sets expectations and monitors delegated activities; provides recognition for results.

Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well; effectively influences actions and opinions of others; inspires respect and trust; accepts feedback from others; provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates; gives appropriate recognition to others; displays passion and optimism; mobilizes others to fulfill the vision.

Team Work - Balances team and individual responsibilities; gives and welcomes feedback; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives.

Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; makes self-available to staff; provides regular performance feedback; develops subordinates' skills, encourages growth; solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); fosters quality focus in others; improves processes, products and services; works to improve supervisory skills.

Quality Management - Seeks to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; displays orientation to profitability; demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; aligns work with strategic goals.

Negotiation Skills – Negotiates with suppliers for best cost, purchasing terms, promotional plans and opportunities. Understands ramifications of business decisions and takes measures to ensure fairness in negotiations.

Cost Consciousness - Develops and implements cost saving measures; contributes to profits and revenue; conserves organizational resources.

Diversity - demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; educates others on the value of diversity; promotes a harassment-free environment; builds a diverse workforce.

Ethics - Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.

Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization's goals and values; benefits organization through outside activities; supports affirmative action and respects diversity.

Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; analyzes market and competition; identifies external threats and opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; keeps commitments; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriately an alternate plan.

Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.

Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; measures self against standard of excellence; takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

Initiative - Volunteers readily; seeks increased responsibilities; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.

Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.

Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.

Quantity - Meets productivity standards; completes work in timely manner; strives to increase productivity; works quickly.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Educational Experience:

Required: Bachelor's degree from four-year College or university plus minimum 2 years corporate or regional level merchandising or sales experience in a consumer packaged goods business. -or- a minimum of 2 years as a Harris Teeter Field Specialist, Assistant, Co-Manager, or Store Director/Manager. -or- An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred: Previous Category management experience, or 2 years CPG experience in area of expertise.

Language Ability:
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Math Ability:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability:
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Microsoft Word, word processing software; Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software; Soft Grocer inventory software; BICEPS/TRICEPS order processing systems, Micro Strategy database software, and Ad Display PIPPA Software.

Certificates and Licenses:
Category Management Development and Training Level I must be completed within 12 months of accepting position and being enrolled in Training Classes.

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the office work environment is usually moderate.

Travel:
Is required of up to two weeks at a time, and could be in excess of 25 nights per year annually and may include travel out of the country.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision and Distance vision. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; use hands to type, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and taste or smell