Associate Category Manager (Hybrid : Onsite and Remote)

Associate Category Manager

Join Our Community of Food People! The Associate Category Manager drives category performance through detailed analysis of product assortment, pricing change analysis, including historical changes and future forecasting, vendor proposals and agreements. The position is focused on optimization of category activities to include new product review, assortment review, vendor negotiations, including RFP and RFI activities, and pricing work related to the assigned category.

New Ways of Work : This position has been segmented as hybrid meaning the work is a combination of 3 days onsite in Rosemont, IL (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) and 2 days remotely (Monday and Friday) as defined by the role segmentation.

Responsibilities :

• Manage and provide detailed analysis of assigned category performance including growth objectives.
• Develop RFPs and RFIs.
• Manage and maintain relationships with vendors leading to product reviews, identification and assessment of opportunities and negotiating promotions for conferences.
• Review and assess vendor performance reports, identify issues and provide recommendations to Category Manager.
• Conduct product assortment review and analysis, identifying top-performing SKUs by division and region.
• Review category pricing reports on a regular basis, identifying potential pricing issues and opportunities.
• Maintain close relations with US Foods regions and divisions with the objective of understanding critical requirements and perspectives and ensuring that their needs are addressed in the overall category strategy.
• Other duties assigned by manager.

Education / Training :

Four-year college degree in business or related field, or equivalent experience required.

Related Experience :

Must possess a minimum 3 years experience in retail, food service or with a consumer goods company. Prior experience in vendor relations, pricing and management of product assortment required. Prior Category Management experience strongly desired.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities :

Must possess the ability to operate successfully in a matrix environment and work effectively across multiple groups and levels. The successful candidate will have solid quantitative and analytical skills and the ability to work in a team setting. Must possess, or be able to rapidly develop, a strong knowledge of products within assigned category and division sales requirements. Must be able to provide fact-based recommendations across various levels of management. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a high degree of motivation, the ability to prioritize and self direct, strong business acumen and sound interpersonal skills. Strong verbal, written and presentation skills required. Proficiency required in the use of Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Microsoft Outlook. Prior experience with Microsoft Access a plus.

This role will also receive annual incentive plan bonus. Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance.