Merchandising Support Manager

Description:

OBJECTIVE

To hire an energetic individual to develop / guide the Merchandising Team in developing strong vendor relationships and promotions to grow our rapidly expanding grocery business. The position will also develop and maintain best practices for merchandising, including pricing, space planning, and retail work. The position will work closely with the other departments under the Merchandising Support Director to ensure that the communication and execution of product flow is accurate and manageable. The Merchandising Support Manager will manage the roles of Space Planning Analyst, Retail Project Manager, Pricing Assistants, Space Planning Coordinators, and Retail Project Coordinators. To mentor team and other department leads to help guide them to consistently drive for personal and professional growth.

5 RULES

1. Do Your Job

2. Be Kind

3. No Surprises

4. No Drama

5. Protect The Brand

5 Values

1. Listening and reacting to customers

2. Fair and Honest dealings with all.

3. Operating profitably to enhance our future.

4. Innovation and action without fear of failure

5. Open communication with all employee-owners

Requirements:

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to define expectations and lead through those expectations.
• Demonstrate strong negotiating skills.
• Ability to create, analyse, interpret, and report analysis results.
• Strong analytical and statistical skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to manage multiple deadlines in a changing environment with a sense of urgency.
• High level of creativity.
• Exceptional time management, prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s Degree or years or experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work alongside the Category Management Team, Space Planning Team, and the Retail Project Team.
• Collaborate with the Category Managers to develop strong marketing plans for all formats of our businesses.
• Work in partnership with support areas inside our company (pricing, marketing, plan-o-gram, warehouse, etc.) as well as outside our company (Alliance/ARG, AWG, HGS,GOT, etc.)
• Work with our vendor partners to develop best practices and ensure that the flow of information to the Pricing Team is accurate and thorough.
• Work with our vendor partners to ensure payment and tracking are accurate and thorough.
• Work together with store operations and store managers to meet not only our customers’ expectations but achieve our company sales and profit goals.
• Work alongside the Space Planning Team to ensure that category assortment is helping drive sales goals.
• Work alongside the Retail project Team to ensure that the organization’s needs are met to - expectations and on time.
• Lead weekly communication conference calls with store operations / managers for each of the formats Houchens operates.
• Assist in developing Weekly Playbook item sales, pricing, and merchandising plans for store operations.
• Publish order recaps of the weekly playbooks to ensure that all aspects of the operations management team are informed.
• Lead as the single communication voice for the grocery team.
• Analyze sales and profit reports to be able to course correct any areas not at plan.
• Provide sales recaps and vendor sales trends to organization to determine trajectory and growth.
• Motivate and challenge team members to achieve all goals.
• Visit store locations to assist operations and review retail projects and categories. Visit competitors to review category data and trends within the market.
• All employees are expected to actively participate and contribute to after-hours events throughout the year. This includes company parties, store visits, and other relevant activities scheduled outside of regular working hours. Employee attendance at these events is fundamental to promoting a positive company culture. Your participation is valued and contributes to a cohesive work environment.
• Understand of retail data systems (POS).
• Develop talent through structured mentorship, cross-training, and growth plans across merchandising support teams
• Identifies opportunities to streamline pricing and reset processes
• Other tasks and duties as need for the organization.

CAREER SUCCESS STRENGTH

Possess excellent oral and written communication, organizational, analytical, and multi-tasking skills. Able to lead a team and motivate its members to perform at the best of their abilities. Able to collaborate with other support groups and form strong partnerships. Demonstrate flexibility, initiative, good judgment, a sense of urgency and a strong attention to detail. Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint). Must be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and be able to manage constant organizational changes.

The company has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.

Houchens Food Group is an equal opportunity employer. Hiring decisions are made without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability, or pregnancy. Applicants may request accommodations based on religious beliefs, disability, or pregnancy.

Subject to pre-employment background and drug screening.