Multi-Cultural/Local/Natural Foods Sales Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION

Execute the Natural Foods strategy throughout the division. Collaborate with General Office (G.O.) Merchandising to identify new and innovative items emerging in the marketplace. Work collaboratively with merchandisers, G.O. and store associates to support the execution and achievement of Natural Foods' sales and budgets. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

RESPONSIBILITIES

- Select, manage and develop partnerships with local/regional product suppliers and educate them on the vendor process
- Conduct open house events at the division level with smaller suppliers in conjunction with corporate Merchandising to facilitate this process of identifying new and innovative items emerging in the marketplace
- Collaborate with corporate Merchandising to develop a balance in the Natural Foods product assortment that meets customer expectations and responds to emerging trends while also achieving sales and profit objectives
- Identify opportunities for incubation of new up-and-coming product suppliers for first-to-market opportunities
- Lead division sales/display plans and create store excitement for selling the plan
- Conduct store visits to coach, teach, and train Natural Foods associates and field specialist to support execution of the Natural Foods strategy
- Evaluate customer and store-level feedback and make recommendations based on the feedback to support customer needs
- Partner with Facility Engineering to request preferred space for Natural Foods spanning across all departments
- Develop and build relationships across all store departments to advocate for shelf/floor space for natural products
- Promote Natural Foods throughout the store (i.e., organic, gluten free, etc.)
- Create, apply and collaborate on best practices and share them with corporate Merchandising
- Attend community events and promote the company as a natural foods provider in the community
- Partner with the Shrink manager to evaluate natural foods product issues, concerns, market trends and possible resolutions
- Execute sales budgets and measurement of execution
- Understand the competitive landscape, merchandising trends, design and assortment within the division and provide necessary feedback to corporate merchandising
- Oversee the execution of the corporate weekly sales plan providing feedback to corporate Merchandising
- Oversee the execution of the weekly sales plan, including modifying recommended ad retails/supplemental rollers and incorporating order guide information
- Develop and execute local seasonal and special merchandising programs
- Maintain accurate classified reports that include both preliminary and current data
- Monitor the daily/weekly reports to identify any product cost or transportation charge corrections
- Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum
- 1 year of assistant store management, merchandising, or category management experience
- Demonstrated leadership skills
- Excellent oral/written communication skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- Ability to negotiate
- Excellent analytical and follow-up skills
- Ability to achieve objectives through others
- Ability to take on tasks outside of expertise
- Proven interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and work effectively with diverse groups

Desired
- Bachelor's Degree
- 2+ years of merchandising/store management/category management experience and/or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Passion for natural foods and natural/organic products