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Category Director, SuperMarket Cold Beverages

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  • Job
    Full-time
    Senior Level
  • Hospitality & Retail
  • Brampton

Requirements

  • 5-7 years of business experience in marketing, merchandising, or pricing role
  • 5-7 years of leadership experience, encompassing coaching, mentoring, recruitment, selection, and performance management expertise.
  • Excellent communicator across the enterprise
  • Strong Financial Acumen and experience managing P&L statements
  • A strong understanding of the market and competitive landscape in order to recognize and capitalize on opportunities
  • Proven strength in having a ‘customer lens’ in all decision-making process
  • Proven ability to develop short- and long-term plans in line with corporate strategies
  • Progressive and innovative: aggressively seeks out opportunities to improve competitiveness and demonstrates an innovative spirit.
  • Ability to gather and synthesize customer, competitor and market insight and information
  • Strong data management and analytical skills with strict attention to detail and the ability to develop business insights and effectively communicate them to the business
  • Creative problem solver and strategic thinker with a strong work ethic
  • Proven ability to deliver results in a high-pressure environment with the ability to set priorities and meet challenging deadlines.
  • An effective change agent who possesses the influencing skills needed to help the organization adopt new ways of thinking and to embrace more sophisticated business tools
  • Ability to coach and mentor direct reports and team with a focus on Colleague Development
  • Post-secondary education (university or professionally accredited college) or equivalent experience

Responsibilities

  • Work closely with the Format Category Teams to build category programs and ensure that targets for sales, market share, shrink and EBIT of a category(ies) are met.
  • Responsible for weekly Category reports and LE’s by category including Other Vendor Income.
  • Implement product assortment, sales and buying plans, while advocating for their customers’ needs, in order to achieve category targets and review implementation throughout the year, adjusting as required to meet targets.
  • Work with control label brand team to develop innovative and differentiated products that grow the brand and help to achieve overall strategy, sales and market share.
  • Deliver against control label objectives in order to achieve annual sales, market share and profit objectives.
  • Develop and communicate merchandising direction for each retail format for assigned category(ies).
  • Develop and implement promotions and programs for the assigned category(ies).
  • Lead weekly store tours
  • Coach, develop and mentor direct reports. This includes explicit consideration of on-the-job training needs for each colleague, arranging appropriate training, providing timely feedback and overseeing colleague development.
  • Collaboratively plan activities and develop strong relationships with the vendor community in order to maximize sales & profit.
  • Build strong, collaborative relationships and leverage all key stakeholders to invest in their business for growth ahead of market.
  • Take full ownership of all key decisions and results, has a passion for their business and a desire to develop their team to similar vision
  • Attend and participate in other meetings as required (JBP, Merch Readiness, Blue Print to Sell, IR etc.)
  • Other duties as assigned.

FAQs

What is the primary responsibility of the Category Director for Supermarket Cold Beverages?

The primary responsibility of the Category Director is to meet the financial targets of the cold beverages category across all formats, and to work in partnership with the Format Category Teams to develop and execute category programs from strategy to tactics.

What are the key accountabilities of the Category Director?

Key accountabilities include building category programs, developing product assortments, implementing sales plans, leading promotional activities, coaching and mentoring the team, managing vendor relationships, and reporting on category results to ensure targets are met.

What experience is required for this role?

Candidates should have 5-7 years of business experience in marketing, merchandising, or pricing roles, as well as 5-7 years of leadership experience that includes coaching, mentoring, recruitment, and performance management.

How important is financial acumen for the Category Director position?

Financial acumen is crucial for this role, as the Category Director must manage P&L statements and work to achieve sales, market share, and profit objectives within the category.

What skills are essential for success in this position?

Essential skills include excellent communication, strong data management and analytical skills, creativity in problem-solving, strategic thinking, the ability to synthesize market insights, and effective team leadership.

Does the role involve collaboration with other teams or stakeholders?

Yes, the Category Director will liaise with various internal and external stakeholders, including Marketing, Finance, Promotions & Allocations, Brands, Operations, and vendors to achieve category objectives.

Is prior experience in the cold beverages sector specifically required for this position?

While specific experience in the cold beverages sector is not explicitly stated as a requirement, having a strong understanding of the market and competitive landscape related to cold beverages would be beneficial.

What educational qualifications are preferred for the Category Director role?

A post-secondary education, either through university or a professionally accredited college, or equivalent experience is preferred for candidates applying for this position.

What is the work environment and company culture like at Loblaw Companies Limited?

The work environment at Loblaw Companies Limited focuses on collaboration, commitment, and making a positive impact on communities across Canada, with a strong emphasis on development and support of colleagues.

Will the Category Director be responsible for mentoring their team?

Yes, the Category Director is expected to coach, develop, and mentor direct reports, including identifying training needs and overseeing colleague development.

Are there specific reports that the Category Director needs to prepare?

Yes, the Category Director is responsible for preparing weekly Category reports and the Latest Estimates (LE) by category, including tracking Other Vendor Income.

At Loblaw, we're developing innovative products and solutions. Our focus is on empowering Canadians to Live Life Well.

Retail & Consumer Goods
Industry
10,001+
Employees
1919
Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

Our Purpose – Live Life Well Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada’s food and pharmacy leader, the nation’s largest retailer, and the majority unit holder of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. Loblaw – and its portfolio of grocery, health and beauty, financial services and apparel businesses – provides Canadians with an unparalleled mix of value, assortment and convenience, and offers Canadians two of the country’s most recognized brands – President’s Choice and no name. The acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart, along with the powerful Life Brand and Optimum brand, has only served to reinforce our leadership position in the marketplace. As well, our PC Plus program, omni-channel efforts and multicultural merchandising offerings continued to be points of differentiation for our customer experience. In 2019, Loblaw has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, Best Diversity Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc.