Gordon Food Service is hiring an Associate Category Manager. This candidate will collaborates with key stakeholders on the national category team, regional merchandising teams, and with vendors to execute strategies to achieve sales, margin, and brand goals. Leads go-to-market product strategy execution informed by Category Management plans, knowledge of current trends, internal and external category data, and feedback from engaged relationships with GFS regional merchandising and division marketing teams. Works with vendors to drive operational excellence and manages, develops, and implements go-to market activities to support division sales and marketing strategy.

Responsibilities:

Product

• Acts as primary category contact for internal shareholders and external vendor community

• Acts as a key product specification resource, including product certification and defining key attributes

• Works with the Quality Assurance Team and vendors on resolution to product quality issues

• Responsible for supporting all segments of the business

Supplier Operational Excellence

• Supports Supply Chain with vendor escalation on mid- to long-term vendor service level improvement and plans to ensure product availability to meet customer needs

• Responsible for developing alternative supply solutions to support customer needs

• Works with other departments (Education segment, Stores, etc ) to support Inventory Planning - I.e. back to school, seasonal products, etc)

• Supports the creation of product content/attributes working with vendors and marketing communications

Supplier Execution

• Develops and manages strategic relationships with Tier 2 vendors through regular communications and Joint Business Planning (JBP) reviews to optimize supplier value to Gordon Food Service (Top 50-100 vendors)

• Leads the Joint Business Plan Support Go to Market strategy execution

• Responsible for working with vendors on Food show participation and activity planning

• Assists in escalation process with Vendor Receivables, Category Support and Divisions on vendor dispute resolution

• Works with vendors on driving continuous improvement of VIP Scorecard metrics

Regional Merchandising and Financial Support

• Collaborates with the Regional Merchandising Team on sales facing strategy execution

• Leads execution of financial/margin category management improvement and optimization plans (i.e., conversions, bringing new product innovation to market)

Ideal candidate will have:

• Business Acumen - Proficiency of business and management principles involved in strategic planning to inject creativity, fresh thinking, new perspectives and to generate new and imaginative ideas.

• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems

• Marketing / Product - knowledge of principles and methods for merchandising products and services. Knowledge of product and marketing segments.

• Project Management Skills - able to understand, follow and create processes in order to complete projects.

• Self Management - Must have good time management and organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously and to complete assigned work on time and on budget. Must be results oriented and have excellent team skills.

• Customer Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

• Data Analysis / Analytics Skills - Proficiency in analyzing information; able to use analytics and associated tools (e.g., Excel, Access) in creative ways to tell the product story, garner buy-in, provide insights and to support decision-making.

• Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

• Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

• Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

• Speaking and Writing — Requires effective verbal, written, and presentation skills in order to support projects, convey findings, share strategies and implement product marketing/merchandising presentations, or to sell an idea in a variety of ways including written correspondence, face-to-face, or group meetings.

• Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Experience:

• Bachelor Degree preferred Sales, Marketing, or other related field preferred

• Three or more years previous experience in brand, product or category management.

• Proven capability to perform the essential functions of the job, as demonstrated by an equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of the specified education and experience requirements.

BE PART OF AN AMAZING CULTURE WHERE WHAT MATTERS TO YOU, MATTERS TO US!

Gordon Food Service values our customers and understands that their success is largely dependent upon their workforce. To demonstrate our commitment to our partnership, we will require any candidate who works for a Gordon Food Service customer to provide a letter of support from their management if they are selected for the interview process.

Gordon Food Service is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants and employees will receive consideration for employment, or in terms or conditions of employment, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability. The EEO is the Law poster is available here: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please submit your request to talent@gfs.com and use the words “Accommodation Request” in your subject line. Please keep in mind this method is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability.

All Gordon Food Service locations are tobacco-free.

Gordon Food Service is a drug-free workplace and drug tests all employees.