Category Manager III

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Our mission statement is "To fulfill the highest expectations of our customers through the hands of our dedicated employees."

Job Title: Category Manager III

Department: Purchasing

FLSA: Salary

General Function:  Responsible for proper replenishment and negotiation of assigned products. 

Core Competencies

• Partnerships

• Growth mindset

• Results oriented

• Customer focused

• Professionalism

Reporting Relations:

Accountable and Reports to: VP Sales and Purchasing

Positions that Report to you: None

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Reports to work when scheduled on time. Adheres to company policies and departmental guidelines.
• Negotiates special buys and development of promotional items that produce extra sales and profit for both PDI and the customer.
• Responds in a timely manner to customer requests for special orders, ads and events, and coordinates execution.
• Identifies and implements cost reduction and/or revenue enhancements in the distribution chain.
• Demonstrates leadership in overall conduct setting the example in the areas of dress-code, attitude, problem solving, team building, and professionalism.
• Monitors and sells short code product. Communicates with all departments and improves the overall profit of the parties involved.
• Stays informed on commodity markets that are directly affected by items purchased.
• Utilizes DFIO exposure to support informed buying decisions.
• Maintains responsibility for profitability assigned categories
• Contributes to ad writing process through ad quotes, ad actuals, and ad movement.
• Approves new items including unbiased judgment on what new items to bring in, holding vendors accountable for items that do not sell, and enforcing the 90-day trial period and/or determining if items need more time.  Also evaluates the movement of other items in the category to notice when sales have dropped.
• Communicates new items and product availability with Hy-Vee leadership, customer service, customers, and warehouse via email and click and send.
• Demonstrates teamwork with the vendors to maximize fill rates.
• Participates in Buyers’ meetings weekly.  Demonstrates leadership by finding solutions to benefit the operation.
• Determines and maintains proper fill rate for each individual item. Factors such as customer needs, seasonality, and standard deviation percentage will properly be taken into account.
• Takes advantage of forward buys considering the shelf life, storage facilities constraint, and logistics of the transportation and warehouse departments.
• Visits customers at the store to determine needs, expectations, introduce new programs, and to establish good customer relations as needed.
• Attends seminars, food shows, walks competition, and store grand openings as needed
• Other duties as assigned by management.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Worker Characteristics:

• Good computer skills and spreadsheet abilities. 
• Extensive understanding in math and/or statistics. 
• Must be able to handle interruptions with ease. 
• Good verbal communication skills. 
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate information. 
• Excellent purchasing, pricing, and market knowledge, and inventory control. 
• Good customer relations, interpersonal, and telephone etiquette presenting a positive representation of PDI to inside and outside contacts. 
• Good understanding of market trends. 
• Attention to detail and ability to work accurately with figures. 
• Good organizational, problem solving, and administrative skills. 

Education and Experience:

• High school education or equivalent required. Bachelor's degree in statistics, business, and math or related area preferred.
• 2 years' experience in related food industry required. 

Physical Requirements:

• This position is considered sedentary to light in nature according to the Department of Labor Weight Classifications with primary functions being sedentary in nature.  This is considered a skilled position with frequent to constant listening, talking, and handling of papers, files, and use of computer requiring finger dexterity.

Working Conditions:

• Office environment (climate controlled).
• Busy atmosphere with constant interruptions
• May be required to work in busy, noisy warehouse environment (refrigerated temperatures varying from 35 degrees to -8 degrees and ambient dry warehouse conditions) with interaction with powered industrial equipment.

Equipment Used to Perform Job:

• P. C., 10-key calculator, office telephone system, Microsoft Office, DFIO software.

Contacts: Daily contact with store personnel and frequent contact with suppliers/vendors.

Confidentiality: Has access to confidential information, including pricing.