Job Details

Job Title: Director – Meat and Seafood

Department: Merchandising

Job Region: Store Support –Portland

Reports-To: Group Director - Perishables

Exemption Status (typically): Exempt

Requirements: As a retail grocer, we operate 7 days/week and 365 days/year and as such work in support of our stores may include evening and weekend hours per the needs of the business. Valid Driver License and vehicle required, with ability to travel regularly to store locations, trade shows / events and/or other off-site locations throughout the United States. Valid Food Handler's Card.

About us: New Seasons Market began in 2000 when three families got together to open a neighborhood market, a place where local communities can come together to connect with where their food comes from. A friendly, inviting place that honors its region's farmers, ranchers, growers and makers—helping them prosper for generations to come. Over the years, our community has grown, but our goal is still the same: to build community through good food.

About the role: As part of the merchandising leadership team, provides guidance and management of the Category Managers for Meat and Seafood programs / departments for New Seasons Market. Responsible for oversight of the category strategies including product, promotion, retail price and value, store layout, and training. Responsible for achieving the sales and financial targets for the individual store departments. This is a leadership position. You are responsible for providing leadership in line with company values and promoting a positive and progressive work environment in alignment with our company mission, vision, values, and policies.

Position Responsibilities:

• Guides and directs the Category Managers in New Seasons Market (NSM) Meat and Seafood categories to ensure that the overall company's objectives are being met regarding vendor partnerships, product assortment, financial stewardship, and supply-chain management.
• Supervises, mentors and coaches the Meat and Seafood merchandising teams. Communicates expectations and holds staff accountable through ongoing feedback, coaching and training.
• Ensures we cultivate a strong relationship with our vendor partners, uphold our Pledge to Vendors, and ensure we are the "best place to do business". Ensures our vendors grow as we grow and provide assistance where we can so that they can achieve their full potential.
• Conducts periodic reviews of assortment and product selection to ensure we are meeting our objectives around product mix.
• Provides guidance to merchandisers about changing customer trends. Gather insights from internal and external resources to enable fact-based decision-making.
• Drives innovation and the spirit of bold thinking that gives NSM a competitive edge while ensuring strong balance across planet, people, and profit.
• Works with merchandising leadership to implement category insights practices and a business discipline around product, price, promotion, and placement.
• Works with Procurement team to meet our goals for price / value and competitive position. Identifies image and margin opportunities and oversees the necessary modelling and analysis with recommendations to management.
• Establishes clear plans to support the company's promotional and merchandising planning calendar.
• Provides oversight and direction to the weekly ad circular. Coordinates with team to create a cohesive plan, manage markdown investment, and deliver financial targets.
• Creates and models Standard Operating Practices (SOPs) so that our merchandising plans and strategies come to life in our stores in a way that ensures operational excellence and an amazing customer and staff experience.
• Conducts regular store walks to ensure full understanding of program success including product knowledge, visual merchandising and general program schematics.
• Provides input into the annual planning process (financial and strategic).
• Stays abreast of industry changes around category trends, new products, equipment, and fixtures.
• Works with the merchandising team, store department managers / leadership, and others as needed, to create exciting promotional events that drive customer traffic and trial of our signature and destination categories.
• Provides input to the new store / renovation layout and design process so that we are setting ourselves apart from the competition while ensuring operational efficiency and cost control.
• Works closely with marketing to generate new ideas and leverage new technology to promote our stories, our people, and our products.
• Develops effective and timely processes to provide weekly updates to leadership, marketing, and stores on category / item performance, event analysis, and profitability.
• Works with merchandising, accounting, and store development to create targets for all capital expenditures. Conduct regular analyses on strategic investments (ROI).
• Conducts period end assessments as needed. Works with Operations teams to identify and solve areas of opportunity that are diluting sales or margin potential.
• Participates in quarterly program review processes as needed.
• Partners with store leadership to help develop category department managers and staff.
• Tools and Equipment Used (not all inclusive):This position works with standard office equipment. May be required to use the following tools and equipment when working in stores or offsite; baler, hand truck, POS, industrial kitchen equipment (i.e. blast chiller, grill, knives/blades, oven, grills, scales, etc.) and basic housekeeping / janitorial items.
• This position works consistently at a light worklevel and may be asked to work on occasion at a medium or heavy work level when supporting stores or other offsite events. Frequentlyrequired to sit, walk, reach and grasp. Occasionally required to be on feet with a mix of standing and walking throughout shift. Up to occasionally, dependent on location, required to climb stairs, step stool and /or ladders.
• Performs other tasks and duties as assigned.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities and requirements, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function within our company. New Seasons Market reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet changing industry or business needs as necessary.

What you Bring as a Candidate:

• Minimum of 10 years of retail merchandising and category management experience required.
• Previous food and/or grocery specific industry experience preferred. Experience in a multi-unit, high growth retail or similar environment required.
• Experience in the preparation, handling, and sale of fresh meat and seafood, with strong knowledge of food safety, customer service, and product presentation.
• High level knowledge and experience of P&L management, accountability for sales, labor and margin contribution required.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers for costs, promotions, services and distribution strategies.
• Excellent record of maintaining first-rate sanitation and food handling standards including HACCP programs, good manufacturing standards and food safety regulations
• Previous management or leadership level experience required. Experience managing and mentoring multiple direct reports, including across multiple geographic regions.
• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administrations, Retail Management, Marketing or related fields required, however relevant work experience in lieu of formal education is acceptable.
• High-level proficiency with MS Office. Working knowledge of culinary production management systems or other retail specific software highly preferred. Skills to learn new computer programs and systems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including tact and diplomacy, to collaborate, negotiate and communicate effectively and professionally with cross-functional partners at all levels in the company.
• Ability to manage financial results, including labor, sales and profit margin.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with problem-solving, project management and execution of initiatives across multiple locations and regions.
• Proven experience driving and executing strategic initiatives, policies, programs and projects that achieve measurable business results.

Physical and Environmental Work Space: Work occurs in office, a variety of off-site environments and in a grocery store environment which includes surfaces that can be wet and slippery, moderate noise level, and temperature extremes in controlled environments in the cooler and freezer, and depending on location, working outside in all temperatures. There may be exposure to certain allergens and / or chemicals. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and other applicable state or local law, we will make reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.