Category Strategy Implementation Specialist
Support and execute the implementation of US Foods division category strategy across the defined Area. Execute recommended assortment changes and support positive local vendor relationships for all DCs within the defined Area. Support Area sales staff with product assortment updates, informational inquiries and delivery of merchandising goals for all DCs within that Area. Support all local customer requirements within the defined Area keeping in line with the national strategies coming from the Center.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop implementation plan for category strategy customized for multiple Distribution Centers. Ensure implementation is in alignment with overall US Foods category strategy and goals and defined Area needs. Drive KPIs across categories (including sales case growth, category penetration, EB penetration, and TM feedback) and competitive market pricing; work with TMs to refine customer product offering, order guides and potential pricing for new accounts.
• Review assigned Area product assortment and gauge product penetration, noting slow or dead SKUs as well as growth opportunities. Responsible for profitable sales growth within assigned categories for their Area. Ensure Area product assortment is in alignment with US Foods category strategy and work to reduce SKU duplication. Ensure all local customer needs are met and aligned with the national strategies.
• Maintain lead role in consistently gathering local market data for multiple markets in assigned Area (including trends) through feedback and intelligence from culinary team, sales staff, and vendor partners. Report on new product opportunities and provide data on competitors. Finalize Area assortment and core complement. Communicate changing market conditions and weekly talking points for the sales team and top customers.
• Facilitate product training and new product introductions with sales staff. Ensure product/brand message is aligned with overall USF strategy. Work closely with the culinary team, conducting planning meetings to identify accounts and categories and their potential opportunities.
• Support and facilitate all FSQA inquiries for the assigned Area through appropriate procedures and work closely with the Region team on any national or regional vendor issues. Support major Area-specific account bids through thorough analysis, coordinate customer on-boarding, and keep sales staff informed of ongoing category strategy.

Supervision:

• None

Relationships:

• Internal: Will work directly with local sales, sales support, and merchandising teams. Will work closely with commodity procurement manager and field category manager to build and execute strategy.
• External: Manage relationships with approved corporate and local beef vendors. Also responsible for building and maintaining customer relationships with top tier customers and prospects.

Work Environment:

• Onsite: The associate in this role is expected to perform assigned responsibilities inside a US Foods office-based environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum 7 years category management experience required, ideally this experience will derive from the food service or food manufacturing industries.
• Must possess the ability to operate successfully within a matrix organization, working effectively with multiple groups.
• Must be able to work in a team setting, drive organizational transformations and support change management within the organization.
• Must be able to provide fact-based recommendations across a variety of management levels resulting in buy-in and improvement in category performance.
• Must be self-directed and highly motivated, possessing a strong business acumen, sound interpersonal skills, and excellent presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, and Excel required; working knowledge of PowerPoint.

Education:

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

Preferred Qualifications:

• Project management experience

Physical Qualifications:

• Standard required physical activities including length of time performing each activity.

Job Requires Worker To:
Frequency:

• Stand: Occasionally
• Walk: Occasionally
• Drive: Never
• Sit: Frequently

Lift:

• 1-10 lbs (Sedentary): Occasionally
• 11-20 lbs (Light): Occasionally
• 21-50 lbs (Medium): Never
• 51-100 lbs (Heavy): Never
• Over 100 lbs (Very Heavy): Never

Carry:

• 1-10 lbs (Sedentary): Occasionally
• 11-20 lbs (Light): Occasionally
• 21-50 lbs (Medium): Never
• 51-100 lbs (Heavy): Never
• Over 100 lbs (Very Heavy): Never

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
• Life insurance

Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state minimum wage thresholds). The expected base rate for this role is between $65,000 - $130,000.
EOE Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Age/Genetic Information/Protected Veteran/Disability Status