Category Manager - Deli/In Store Bakery

Are you ready for your opportunity to play a leading role on a team accountable for building fact-based, customer driven category-marketing plans? In your role as Category Manager at The North West Company (NWC), you will source, price, and market product to profitably grow the food department gross profit line. You will use sales data, customer research, market data, and industry information to better meet the needs of our unique consumer and to optimize financial performance. As Category Manager you will lead a team to develop, formulate, and execute a strategy and tactics within the context of the overall category strategy, including assortment planning, procurement, merchandising, retail pricing advertising and promotion, as well as assisting in vendor negotiations and supply agreements.

Joining NWC gives you the opportunity for growth and development throughout the company, a competitive salary and benefits package, and to be part of a dynamic and diverse culture.

NWC is a leading retailer to under-served rural communities and urban neighborhood markets in the following regions: Northern Canada, Western Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific islands, and the Caribbean. Our stores offer a broad range of products and services with an emphasis on food. Our value offer is to be the best local shopping choice for everyday household and local lifestyle needs. Check out northwest.ca for more information.

Your Role:

• Develop a connection to Northern Canada through in-community work experience to create customer-centered business plans
• Develop strategic marketing plans with measurable objectives that includes advertising, in-store specials and special buys
• Provide leadership and training to the department’s Category Assistant.
• As the Category Manager you are the subject matter expert for your business unit and build plans around product, price, promotion and placement to drive sales and gross profit performance
• Evaluate market trends and consumer behavior drive category plans, to develop assortment strategies and to evaluate assortment performance
• Build strong relationship with suppliers to secure the most favorable terms, costs, product and quality of goods for NWC and our customers
• Set the initial sales, gross profit, and inventory forecasts used in developing the final operating budget and develop plans to achieve annual budgets

Desired Skills & Experience:

• Ability to set priorities and manage priorities of the team;
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.
• Must have a post-secondary education (degree, diploma, or certification) or an equivalent combination of education/training;
• Minimum 5 years’ retail management experience and/or previous purchasing experience; preferably in Food Service/Deli/Bakery;
• Strong analytical skills and financial analysis capabilities;
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, including Excel;
• Excellent interpersonal and management skills with strong attention to detail; and,
• Strong problem solving skills and the ability to teach and monitor performance;

Location: Gibraltar House, 77 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Reports to: Senior Category Manager - Fresh Merchandising

For Internal Applicants Only:

Salary Grade: 10

Interested internal applicants are invited to apply directly on the website no later than 4:00 P.M, July 10, 2023. Internal applicants must select “Yes” as the answer to “Are you currently employed by The North West Company or any of its subsidiaries?” during the application process.

Positions will be advertised externally; however internal candidates will receive first consideration based on qualifications. NWC employees are encouraged to bring forward applications of external candidates that meet the qualifications of this position.

NOTE: Prior to applying, an internal employee MUST obtain a written endorsement email from their current Manager or Manager – once – removed and provide this to the recruitment team before they can be considered for opportunities. This position adheres to the Corporate Job Posting Guidelines.

We create a collaborative and constructive culture by:

• Working with Passion
• Being Enterprising
• Building Trust
• Leading and Developing Others
• Demonstrating Respect and Inclusivity
• Committing to our Customer

The North West Company is committed to inclusion and diversity and encourages applications from all candidates including but not limited to: all religions and ethnicities, LGBTQ2s+, BIPOC, and persons with disabilities.

A competitive salary is being offered along with opportunities to learn, develop and advance throughout the organization. We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.