Director, Category Management & Procurement Job Listing at Rocket in Long Beach, CA (Job ID 25-666)

Description

The Director of Category Management & Procurement, reporting to the Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising, will lead our category management and procurement functions. This role is critical in driving profitable growth by optimizing product assortments and ensuring that United Pacific's full range of retail products meet the needs of our growing and diverse customer base. The Director will have a deep understanding of the convenience retail industry, strong leadership skills, and a proven track record of successfully leading category management and procurement teams. The ideal candidate will exhibit strategic vision and the ability to execute those strategies at retail. They will be a data-driven, analytical decision-maker, utilizing external and internal data to validate the success of new and existing programs. The Director will develop effective promotional strategies to attract customers and grow basket at our stores, enhance profitability through price optimization, and secure improved product costs and increased vendor funding through exceptional contract negotiations. The Director will strategically manage vendor partnerships to align with our strategic objectives. They will work closely with operations and other stakeholders to ensure the successful execution of programs at retail.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or a related field. An MBA is highly preferred.

• 10+ years of experience in procurement, category management/merchandising in the convenience store industry, big box retail, grocery, or applicable retail environment.
• 7+ years in leadership roles with a track record of successfully managing and developing high-performing teams. Ability to inspire, motivate, and guide team members towards achieving strategic goals.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on long-term planning and execution.
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to interpret data to make informed decisions that drive business growth.
• Proven expertise in negotiating with suppliers to secure favorable terms and build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Ability to understand customer/market needs and trends, with the capacity to translate this knowledge into effective and innovative product assortment, pricing, and placement strategies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and present ideas to executive leadership.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to develop and manage budgets, analyze financial reports, and make data-driven decisions to drive results.
• Ability to adapt to changing market conditions and business needs, with a proactive approach to identifying opportunities.
• Proficiency in procurement and category management software and tools, as well as Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Ability to travel as needed.

The job qualifications described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If accepting an offer of employment, applicant must be able to provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. United Pacific is an EOE.