Provides leadership and oversight to the Category Management / Merchandising function, including strategy development, innovation, definition and execution of marketplace differentiators, key supplier partnerships and team development. Responsible for the financial performance of the Category management / Merchandising function. Accountable for all Category Management / Merchandising strategic and operational decisions, including category management, purchasing, and procurement and retail operations. Oversees team efforts to develop category goals & strategies and product assortments through the lens of our core customer, ensuring a strong mix of national brand product relevance, best-in-class local product relevance, and best-in-class private label product relevance – distinguishing Whole Foods Market from our competition. Responsible for business financial performance.
Responsibilities
- Accountable for the financial performance of assigned high volume, complex, and/or financially significant categories.
- Works with Category Management / Merchandising leadership to help drive change and support WFM evolution to Category Management.
- Works with leadership to help develop category strategy based on financial expectations, category role, category performance, customer and product trends, competitive landscape and WFM differentiators.
- Develops and executes category promotional planning including planning and executing key promotional events and reacting in-season bases on sales performance and the competitive landscape.
- Works with leadership to recommend (Exclusive Brands) and/or set (Category Management) category price strategy and develop pricing tactics to achieve financial and customer objectives;
- Conducts ongoing analysis of category performance, trends, and competitive assortment and pricing.
- Develops strategic relationships with key suppliers to ensure early insight into new trends and products; early and exclusive access to new items; differentiated product; merchandising and promotions and competitive costs.
- Partners with applicable stakeholders to translate assortment plans into merchandising plans and planograms.
- Partners across teams to integrate branded / exclusive programs into overall category strategies as well as with Marketing on marketing and promotional events.
- Works to ensure effective integration of branded / exclusive programs into overall category strategies.
- Engages with applicable stakeholders to ensure effective space planning in support of program plans and strategies.
- Works with business partners to identify gaps in analytical processes and reporting; problem‑solves with various other teams to fill gaps.
- Leads and ensures an integrated approach with business partners in vendor negotiations and cost increase justifications.
- Serves as thought‑leader in pricing and category analysis.
- Leverages strategic supplier / vendor relationships to ensure early insight into new trends and products; early and exclusive access to new items; differentiated product; merchandising and promotions and competitive costs.
- Viewed as subject matter expert and thought leader within category merchant organization.
- Provides leadership to Team Members and Merchandising leaders.
- Retains accountability for the financial performance of designated categories through pre‑season strategy and planning.
- Drives change in the merchandising organization as WFM moves to Category Management.
- Coaches and develops Team Members to ensure performance improvement, career development, and long‑term success.
Skills
- Able to provide ongoing leadership and oversight, ensuring goals, deadlines and budgets are met.
- Ensures alignment between team objectives / initiatives and the organization’s overall vision, values, mission, and business strategy.
- Ensures team services adapt and change as the business evolves.
- Able to develop strong relationships and engage in strategic conversation with senior‑level stakeholders, internally and externally.
- Identifies gaps in understanding, formulates resolution strategies and delivers clear and compelling communication.
- Able to translate overarching strategic objectives into clear, actionable actions.
- Identifies risks and threats in current and emerging process change, supply chain relationships, customer trends, and markets.
- Understands how these threats may impact business operations, financial returns and the company’s competitive position.
- Able to collaborate cross‑functionally and with category and business leaders to develop mitigation processes and enhance business sustainability long‑term.
- Recommends strategic / operational adjustments based on internal and external factors.
- Leads detailed task / project planning, including cost, schedule, and resource requirements.
- Ensures planning incorporates data and information from customer, partner, and company perspectives.
- Collaborates with task / project stakeholders to identify, evaluate, and resolve emerging and anticipated issues.
- Leverages data‑driven insights to recommend and implement task / project continuous improvement.
- Demonstrates clear understanding of WFM’s core business, supply chain and customer / market / supplier interfaces.
- Assesses how products, processes, and operating models impact the company’s business.
- Understands how changes in customer expectations, the competition, new business, new markets, and evolving strategies impact the company’s competitive position and long‑term prospects.
Education & Experience
- BA/BS degree and 6‑8 years’ relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- 2‑4 years leadership experience.
The wage range for this position is £70,600.00-£95,310.00 Annual, commensurate with experience. Whole Foods Market offers “Whole Benefits”. Whole Benefits offers a wide range of benefits for Full and Part‑Time Team Members, including eligibility for a store discount, paid time off, financial wellness, health & wellness support programs, and access to other Team Member perks. Eligibility for Whole Benefits is determined under the terms of the applicable Whole Benefits plan at a person’s date of hire and may vary based on work location, length of service, and job type (such as regular or seasonal). https://careers.wholefoodsmarket.co.uk/benefits.
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