Associate Category Merchandiser

** Position Overview
** The Assoc Category Merchandiser is responsible for the coordination and execution of strategic category plans across a smaller desk and assigned categories  Partnering with the Category Manager and Promotional Planning Manager, the Assoc Category Merchandiser will use margin targets and competitive data to provide business insights and recommendations to adjust strategies and tactics to improve sales, simplify execution, and improve profitability for assigned categories  The Assoc Category Merchandiser ensures regional assortment and seasonal merchandising needs are prioritized to drive incremental volume  The Associate Category Merchandiser coordinates product, cost, merchandising tactics, and activities supporting promotions, TPRs, and selling events  The Assoc Category Merchandiser oversees the input of deals and file maintenance data to ensure all programs are executed on time for their assigned desk & categories  Associate Category Merchandiser will work with cross functional teams to ensure programs are on trend with the industry, reflective of the regional mix, and focused on delivering the highest quality, relevant products, and best cost

** Job Description*
* ** Description*
* + Understand and apply analytical and quantitative insights to support annual category strategy development, including supporting the planning process, competitive intelligence, sales data, and syndicated data to provide actionable insights, trends, and opportunities to drive incremental sales and margin, oversee the execution of assigned vendor programs, allowances, performance funds, incentives, forward buys, direct plan ship options maintaining efficiency incentives as a competitive advantage  Partners with the Commercial team and Promotional Planning team in their assigned region to implement sales programs and support local events

+ Responsible for the oversight and execution of category tactics, milestones, and deliverables, including deal submissions, demand planning, new item introduction, and key selling events  Perform SKU rationalization of categories and work with suppliers to continually offer the right assortment to customers and to continually understand commodity market risk for their assigned desk

+ Serves as the primary point of escalation for assigned vendor/broker tactics and planning day to day, including deal submission and approval, and working with manufacturing, Buying, and Transportation to resolve OOS  out of stock issues  for their assigned desk

+ Monitors and tracks Trade Fund planning execution  passed and retained , flyer income, incentives, forward buys, truckload opportunities, and income and escalates variances to the Sr Category Merchandiser for resolution

+ Participate in cross functional planning to support corporate and regional growth strategies

+

Travel Required:

No

** Environment*
* + Office :
Office Temperature  65F to 75F

** Skills*
* + Specialized Knowledge :
Solid analytical and quantitative skills, comfortable with complex financial data;
Experienced in category planning;
Solid understanding of financial methodology to determine costs, develop annual business plans and oversee daily metrics  sales, volume, inventory, costs, etc  ;
Ability to present results of analysis, data models, and other projects to management concisely

+ Special Skills :
Strong communications skills - speaking, writing, presenting;
Strong planning and time management skills;
High threshold for working in ambiguous, fast paced environments - figuring it out and adapting as you go;
Ability to operate simultaneously and effectively in both tactical and strategic modes

+ Physical abilities: :

+ Other: :
Will need to travel to minimum of 2 food shows a year

** Years Of Experience*
* + 0 2 : 0 2 years working knowledge of retail/supermarket, wholesale, and/or CPG experience  Bachelor's in Business, Finance, or Marketing required

** Qualifications
* * Bachelor's Degree   Business, Bachelor's Degree   Finance, Bachelor's Degree   Marketing

** Shift*
* ** Company
* * C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC

** About Our Company*
* C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC is an industry leader in supply chain solutions and wholesale grocery supply in the United States  Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S now services customers of all sizes, supplying more than 7,500 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with over 100,000 different products  C&S also proudly operates and supports corporate grocery stores and services independent franchisees under a chain style model throughout the Midwest, South and Northeast  We are an engaged corporate citizen, supporting causes that positively impact our communities

Working Safely is a Condition of Employment at C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC  C&S Wholesale Grocers is an Equal Opportunity Employer  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,…