Category Specialist

Gordon Food Service is hiring an Category Specialist. This candidate will support the Category Manager in executing strategies to achieve sales, margin, and brand goals. Provides performance analysis recommendations to support the Category Manager and Lead Category Buyer in end-to-end category management informed by knowledge of current trends, internal and external category data, and feedback from engaged relationships with GFS divisions and Regional Merchandising teams. Supports and implements go-to-market activities to support division sales and marketing strategy. Supports and executes project management of product lifecycle processes for assigned product lines, ensuring the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of relevant core product data to maximize Gordon Food Service (GFS) sales and net margin of assigned product lines.

Responsibilities:

Category & Vendor Management

• Provides support and recommendations in the development of strategies, providing insight to achieve volume and margin targets in support of segmented customer and brand marketing plans.

• Collaborates with the Category Manager, Business Manager, Regional Merchandising, and Divisions to ensure that appropriate products are effectively prioritized, marketed and merchandised.

• Approves new product setup and executes introduction, taxonomy, conversion, and discontinuance resulting from end-to-end category management process.

• Assists the Category Manager in developing product marketing tools and tactics in collaboration with the Brands, Marketing Communications, and merchandising regions.

• Executes all aspects of the product lifecycle management process from initial sourcing and market introduction to product positioning to deletion.

• Assists in New Innovation Pipeline/ Portfolio Gaps (Brands and NB) and supports development to commercialization

• Assists in development of Conversions: Preferred Portfolio, Forced (SKU rationalization), Selling conversions (Sales / NMU)"

• Collaborates with Insights team (Vendor/NPD/Direct Link) to fully leverage data in category decisions

• Executes Cost Strategy initiatives identified through Variant Tree & Cost Stratification activity while also maintaining BCI rules and attributes

• Understands Key Performance Indicators (KPI's- Top Line Growth, Vendor Income, Net Margin, Market Share) and supports the Category Manager in assuring the financial health of the business.

• Responsible for supporting all segments of the business.

• Effectively manages expenses within budget for associated tools and promotions.

• Maintains a working knowledge of quality assurance requirements for products, GFS brands, and vendor compliance.

• Maintains knowledge of industry trends and developments by reading appropriate books, journals and other literature and attending related conferences, seminars, supplier training visits, etc. Maintains industry relationships to share issues and ideas.

• Works collaboratively with other peers towards continuous improvement of existing processes and development of new tools to drive greater Category Management efficiencies

• Assists Category Manager and Lead Category Buyer with Competitive Market Review strategies for assigned product lines.

• Develops and manages strategic relationships with select vendors through regular communications and Vendor Business Reviews.

• Supports Joint Business Planning Process with vendor partners.

• Responsible for acquisition, accuracy, timeliness and relevance of core product data information.

• Adheres to the mission and cornerstone values and applicable practices of the organization.

Ideal candidate will have:

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

• 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 assign 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.

• Business Acumen

• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

• 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:

• More than two years of product / category knowledge or previous marketing experience

• High School required. Associate of Bachelor preferred

Location:

• 1300 Gezon Pkwy, Wyoming MI 49509

• Hybrid Schedule 3 days in office 2 days remote

• Monday to Friday

• 8 am to 5 pm

Adherence to Hybrid Work Policy:

Adherence to the company's hybrid work policy is an essential function of the Category Specialist position. The policy is subject to change, and employees will be required to adhere to those changes as a condition of their continued employment.

Gordon Food Service is hiring an Category Specialist. This candidate will support the Category Manager in executing strategies to achieve sales, margin, and brand goals. Provides performance analysis recommendations to support the Category Manager and Lead Category Buyer in end-to-end category management informed by knowledge of current trends, internal and external category data, and feedback from engaged relationships with GFS divisions and Regional Merchandising teams. Supports and implements go-to-market activities to support division sales and marketing strategy. Supports and executes project management of product lifecycle processes for assigned product lines, ensuring the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of relevant core product data to maximize Gordon Food Service (GFS) sales and net margin of assigned product lines.

Responsibilities:

Category & Vendor Management

• Provides support and recommendations in the development of strategies, providing insight to achieve volume and margin targets in support of segmented customer and brand marketing plans.

• Collaborates with the Category Manager, Business Manager, Regional Merchandising, and Divisions to ensure that appropriate products are effectively prioritized, marketed and merchandised.

• Approves new product setup and executes introduction, taxonomy, conversion, and discontinuance resulting from end-to-end category management process.

• Assists the Category Manager in developing product marketing tools and tactics in collaboration with the Brands, Marketing Communications, and merchandising regions.

• Executes all aspects of the product lifecycle management process from initial sourcing and market introduction to product positioning to deletion.

• Assists in New Innovation Pipeline/ Portfolio Gaps (Brands and NB) and supports development to commercialization

• Assists in development of Conversions: Preferred Portfolio, Forced (SKU rationalization), Selling conversions (Sales / NMU)"

• Collaborates with Insights team (Vendor/NPD/Direct Link) to fully leverage data in category decisions

• Executes Cost Strategy initiatives identified through Variant Tree & Cost Stratification activity while also maintaining BCI rules and attributes

• Understands Key Performance Indicators (KPI's- Top Line Growth, Vendor Income, Net Margin, Market Share) and supports the Category Manager in assuring the financial health of the business.

• Responsible for supporting all segments of the business.

• Effectively manages expenses within budget for associated tools and promotions.

• Maintains a working knowledge of quality assurance requirements for products, GFS brands, and vendor compliance.

• Maintains knowledge of industry trends and developments by reading appropriate books, journals and other literature and attending related conferences, seminars, supplier training visits, etc. Maintains industry relationships to share issues and ideas.

• Works collaboratively with other peers towards continuous improvement of existing processes and development of new tools to drive greater Category Management efficiencies

• Assists Category Manager and Lead Category Buyer with Competitive Market Review strategies for assigned product lines.

• Develops and manages strategic relationships with select vendors through regular communications and Vendor Business Reviews.

• Supports Joint Business Planning Process with vendor partners.

• Responsible for acquisition, accuracy, timeliness and relevance of core product data information.

• Adheres to the mission and cornerstone values and applicable practices of the organization.

Ideal candidate will have:

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

• 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 assign 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.

• Business Acumen

• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

• 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:

• More than two years of product / category knowledge or previous marketing experience

• High School required. Associate of Bachelor preferred

Location:

• 1300 Gezon Pkwy, Wyoming MI 49509

• Hybrid Schedule 3 days in office 2 days remote

• Monday to Friday

• 8 am to 5 pm

Adherence to Hybrid Work Policy:

Adherence to the company's hybrid work policy is an essential function of the Category Specialist position. The policy is subject to change, and employees will be required to adhere to those changes as a condition of their continued employment.