Category Optimization Manager

**JOB PURPOSE**: **KEY JOB FUNCTIONS / ROLES / RESPONSIBILITIES**: - Responsible for working with and developing cross-functional teams to drive efficiency, opportunity, and profitability across their particular categories. - Negotiate and sell weekly to select commodity accounts to ensure first-hand market understanding and optimize category sales. - Provide internal expertise and direction on pork market pricing (i.e., USDA, Canadian market, exchange rate, Urner Barry), international market/political implications. - Oversee and provide direction regarding the preparation and balancing of daily production requirements and inventory allocation. - Identify strategies and tactics to drive incremental sales by analyzing assortment, evaluating financial data, and developing insights from customer behavior. - Develop recommendations for short - and long-term optimization opportunities for their specific category responsibilities. - Weekly review and accountability for targeted KPI's, i.e. sales results, mix, profit margins, etc. - Responsible to develop and execute disposition plan for fresh/frozen inventories at optimal levels. - Lead category optimization team within broader Sales Department - Work directly with the Senior Manager, Commodity Sales, and Product Management to create market costing strategies. - Implement and measure effectiveness of pricing strategies developed in conjunction with the Senior Manager, Commodity Sales, and Product Management - Provide overall direction and implement product strategies cross functionally. - Accountable to ensure accurate product specifications for associated category. - Demonstrates and promotes the Conestoga WAY (Company values) - Other duties and responsibilities as assigned. - Available for on call in evenings as well as Saturdays as required. **QUALIFICATIONS**: - 3-5 years of work experience in a role focused on business analytics. - Understanding of commodity markets preferred - Sales/negotiation skills would be optimal. - University degree in Business Administration, Finance or Mathematics preferred. - Financial skills in order to prepare budgets, cost standards, analyze variances, etc. - Office/project management software skills - Excellent verbal and written communication skills - Strong attention to detail - Ability to work independently and handle multiple priorities at the same time. - Strong Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, especially Word and Excel - Technologically savvy and able to learn various enterprise systems. - Team player: maintain a positive attitude, and work collaboratively cross functionally. - Proactive problem solver with a focus on continuous improvement - Strong initiative and drive to succeed. **KEY COMPETENCIES** **Accountability and Initiative** - Takes initiative and demonstrates a "do whatever it takes" work ethic to get the job done. - Consistently delivers on personal targets. **Service Excellence** - Displays personal ownership and a sense of urgency over any issues or complaints that arise from the customer experience. - Maintain an outstanding customer experience despite time pressures or obstacles. **Communicating with Clarity** - Verifies the meaning of messages sent by others and confirms any next steps required. **KEY PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITIES** - Optimal daily production plans for assigned category. - Weekly review and accountability for targeted KPI's - Developing and executing short - and long-term pricing strategies - Ensure accurate costing, product specifications, and communication. - Financial return optimized.