In your role as Senior Category Manager – Fresh, you will be responsible for driving the profitability, growth, and success of specific product categories within the company's portfolio. Leading a team of Category Managers and Assistants along with Crescent Multifood Wholesale, you will oversee essential duties as P&L management, category reviews, category strategies, budgeting, promotion plans and vendor negotiations.
Joining NWC gives you a competitive salary and benefits package, and to be part of a dynamic and diverse culture.
NWC is a leading retailer to under-served rural communities and urban neighborhood markets in the following regions: Northern Canada, Western Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific islands, and the Caribbean. Our stores offer a broad range of products and services with an emphasis on food. Our value offer is to be the best local shopping choice for everyday household and local lifestyle needs. Check out northwest.ca for more information.
Your Role:
- Direct and oversee Category Managers in essential duties such as: P&L Management, Category Reviews, Category Strategies, Budgets, Promotion plans, Succession planning and Vendor Negotiations.
- Full financial accountability for Crescent Multifoods Wholesale.
- Create and execute effective, detailed category business plans which include financial performance goals of sales, gross profit, inventory productivity, and operating margins.
- Gather and analyze consumer data, market information, and industry trends for formulation of strategies.
- Complete assortment and margin reviews inclusive of pricing strategies ensuring market competitiveness and gross profit budgets are met and exceeded.
- Negotiate and source products, prices, and agreements on behalf of TNWC, while maintaining strong vendor relationships.
- Provide direction and development for assigned team members inclusive of day to day operations, problem solving and category management disciplines.
- Coordinates messaging/strategy for suppliers across multiple Categories.
- Full financial accountability for team results.
- Develops and monitors department budget.
- Effectively communicates performance and strategies to VP Merchandising.
- Foster strong relationships with cross-functional teams to drive profitable growth.
- Work collaboratively with Sales and Operations and Supply Chain departments to ensure category planning and market programs are executed and operating effectively at store level.
- Learn all aspects of systems and reporting tools required to perform job duties.
- Ensure staff receive necessary training on systems and reporting tools to properly perform their job duties.
- Responsible for talent management for their direct reports including staffing, training and performance management.
Desired Skills & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in business (Masters preferred), marketing, supply chain, or a related field and/or a combination of Education and a minimum of 8-10 years of experience in category management, merchandising, or retail operations.
- Proven facilitation and influencing skills, ability to manage relationships.
- Strong project management, decision making skills.
- Highly organizational and exceptional time management skills. Advanced analytical skills with a deep understanding of financial metrics (sales, margins, inventory management).
- Experience working with retail management software and data analysis tools.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.
- Solid experience with MS Office Suite experience including above average knowledge of Excel
- Must have demonstrated good written and verbal communication skills
- 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.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and priorities.
Location: Gibraltar House, 77 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB
Reports to: Vice President Merchandising
We create a collaborative and constructive culture by:
Being Enterprising • Committing to our Customer • Working with Passion • Leading and Developing Others • Demonstrating Respect and Inclusivity • Building Trust
The North West Company is committed to inclusion and diversity and encourages applications from all candidates including but not limited to: all religions and ethnicities, LGBTQ2s+, BIPOC, and persons with disabilities.
A competitive salary is being offered along with opportunities to learn, develop and advance throughout the organization. We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
This is an active job opening for a position that is currently available and we are actively seeking to fill.
For Internal Applicants Only:
Salary Grade: C0R013
Note: All employees must have a minimum of one year of service in their current position prior to applying for other positions unless authorized by their current manager. Prior to applying, an internal employee also MUST obtain a written endorsement email from their current Manager or Manager – once – removed and provide this to the recruitment team before they can be considered for opportunities. This opportunity adheres to the corporate job posting guidelines.