Assistant Category Manager

Employment Opportunity

**Sheridan Nurseries Head Office is actively searching for an**:
Assistant Category Manager, Seasonal Plants

Permanent, Full Time

**About the Job**:
The Assistant Category Manager is accountable for achieving sales and profit objectives for the Seasonal Plant categories, under the direction of the Seasonal Plant Category Manager. Responsibilities include the development and successful implementation of buying strategies, merchandise programs and marketing plans as well as incorporating competitive intelligence based on customer insights and business analysis. The Assistant Category Manager will be taking the lead on the Tropical and Flowering houseplants categories under the supervision of the Category Manager.

**Your Accountabilities**:
**Merchandising**:

- Manages vendor selection, negotiates vendor allowance, and develops vendor partnerships.
- Monitors industry trends, evaluates competition, and attends Vendor meetings.
- Supports the Category Manager to develop the merchandise strategy, including product selection and key item sourcing and development.
- Ensures that new items are set up properly in the item database.
- Develops and reviews sales unit performance analysis for opportunities.
- Assists in conducting the monthly/quarterly reviews.
- Participates in Garden Centre and Competition store visits.
- Provides information and assists in floor space strategies and opportunities with the Retail Merchandiser.

**Purchasing**:

- Assists in analyzing category performance.
- Manages the timely placement and maintenance of purchase orders.
- Ensures assortment planning best practices and allocation strategies.
- Provides information for, reviews, and assists in the development of the assortment and buy plan.
- Monitors and provides feedback for order flow recommendations.
- Provides information for the identification of distribution and vendor logistics opportunities.
- Inspects and resolves issues with data integrity (reporting systems).
- Manages the setup of items designated for Ecommerce uploads.
- Develops and reassesses replenishment assortment, financial plans and open to buy with Inventory Manager and replenishment analyst.
- Monitors inventory productivity and analyzes vendor profitability.

**Financial Planning**:

- Reviews departmental sales and inventory level, providing recommendations.
- Manages and assists in building department plans/budgets by month.
- Participates in the monthly business reviews of departmental financial results.

**Pricing and Marketing**:

- Supports product selection for all advertising and marketing. Print, Digital, and social media
- Partners to establish a pricing strategy.
- Develops and executes aged inventory exit strategies.
- Develop market price retail price strategy for assigned categories and provide target markup analysis and guidelines which is applied to buying decisions; recommending and approving item price changes; ensuring that price changes are input in a timely manner; evaluating financial impact of price changes.
- Manages ad in-stock on promotional items and ensures the communication of in-stock issues to stores.
- Oversees appropriate in-store signage.
- Supports visual team in providing store presentation guidance.

**People Development**:

- Participates in skills training and development.
- Participates in the team's activities and helps to support and develop a teamwork atmosphere.
- Provides leadership and guidance to Seasonal Plant Supervisors and Assistant Store Managers with regards to purchasing decisions, seasonal assortment, and inventory levels.

**Knowledge, Skills and Abilities**:

- University or College degree in Business Administration with a focus on sales and marketing with 2 years of relevant Category Management experience.
- Horticultural experience is preferred.
- Experience in strategic analysis, knowledge of margin planning, open to buy, inventory productivity measures, assortment planning and elements of markup.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to negotiate,
- Product knowledge an asset.
- Ability to adapt and prioritize multiple tasks and situations.
- Must be legally eligible to work in Canada.

**Our Vision, Mission, & Values**:
At Sheridan Nurseries we aim to delight our associates, guests, and business partners in everything we do. Independently owned and operated for over 100 years, we are committed to growing the highest quality plants at our local farms, curating the best-in-class home, garden, and lifestyle products and services, delivering unrivaled guest service and satisfaction, and providing meaningful and rewarding careers to our employees. We always strive to inspire and share our knowledge, passion, and expertise to build confidence, loyalty, and trust, while protecting our planet with industry leading environmentally sustainable initiatives and giving back to our local communities and charities.

Our vision is “To inspire people to never stop