Job Description

BENEFITS:

• Competitive Medical, Dental, & Vision package
• Wellness Program
• Employer paid basic life policy with competitive buy-up options
• Disability insurance
• 401(k) with employer match

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• College degree or work experience equivalent
• Knowledge and understanding of purchasing processes
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to negotiate, establish and process contracts
• Able to multitask, prioritize and manage time efficiently
• Accurate and precise, attention to detail
• Able to make decisions in a fast-paced environment
• Work independently and in a TEAM environment
• Dependable
• Self-Motivated
• Good attendance/punctual
• Background in foodservice and convenience store inventory procurement preferred
• Travel up to 10% required for regional trade shows

SUMMARY OF DUTIES: Maintain optimum in-stock service levels to convenience store retailers and achieve inventory investment goals and profits; proactively have available the most comprehensive offering of products and services to enhance sales and profits ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Additional duties which are necessary to carry out the function of the Category Manager may be assigned and are incorporated by reference into this job description.

• Primary duty includes the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance and is directly related to the management and general business operations of the Company and its customers;
• Responsible for executing all daily duties of replenishment buying, including but not limited to, administering vendor due orders, A level and regular sku order points, history exceptions, accurate promotional demand accuracy and plans;
• Establish, modify, & maintain optimal profit analysis criteria for all assigned vendor lines and categories; review and re-set vendors on a 6-month cycle minimum;
• Timely and routinely compare service forecast to actual, inventory forecast to actual and service level accuracy; implement necessary modifications and measurable timeline strategies to maximize efficient inventory investment and service level performance;
• Responsible for demand forecast adjustments, accurate lead time analysis, implementation and modification of accurate seasonal profiles, and setting SKU buyer status;
• Analyze assigned vendor lines and categories to eliminate dead stock, slow selling items and sku duplication; responsible to identity, notify and implement, where necessary, sku substitutions;
• Primary liaison with operations on all sku related issues, including but not limited to, UPC\xe2\x80\x99s, dead stock, vendor pickups, damages, new item slot requests;
• Responsible for accurate and timely set up of new products and promotions within appropriate categories, classes, components and sales forecast;
• Responsible for timely vendor bill backs for all relevant sales & marketing programs, including but not limited to allowances and sales spiffs, internal and external sample requests, and damages not invoiced from Innovative Return Concepts;
• Responsible for maintaining accurate vendor price list, terms and conditions of sale; responsible to timely update allowances and price changes; responsible for all invoice variances, discrepancies, or vendor payback requests;
• Meet regularly with all vendor and broker representatives for assigned lines and categories; proactively and aggressively negotiate with vendor and broker representatives to secure new items and generate promotions including, but not limited to, periodic deals, deal buys, incentives, sales spiffs and additional payment terms; notify vendors of any and all issues relating to vendor minimum issues, repetitive late deliveries and deficient service level performance;
• Timely prepare and present all collateral marketing and purchasing support materials that include but are not limited to, hot sheets and monthly Trading Post Catalogs to Senior Category Manager; requires routine timely follow up to insure timely delivery;
• Required to notify all relevant departments, including but not limited to, operations and accounting of specific information relating to deals and forward buy purchase orders, expenditures, cases and expected delivery; required to work with operations personnel to insure timely receipt of all purchase orders;
• In the event of pre-scheduled time off consistent with employee handbook, Category Manager is responsible for making sure that work tasks are timely completed in advance and/or assigned to other personnel for the duration of time off;
• Responsible for vendor compliance with all company marketing initiatives; requires proactive, routine and timely follow up with vendors for all collateral elements of each marketing program and solicitation of new vendors for participation in marketing programs;
• Responsible for timely notifications and presentations to sales, merchandising and customer service personnel on new items, promotions, deletions and category sku changes via email, voice mail and at regularly scheduled sales meetings; coordinate vendor participations at sales meetings with administrative assistant;
• Responsible for timely and accurate follow up of all internal sales personnel requests on new items, research and status;
• Reports to work, meetings, and scheduled business affairs on time, as directed by the Senior Category Manager and completes above listed task in a competent manner;

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands of this job include light physical activity performing activities of an administrative, productive and/or technical nature that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee must regularly talk or hear and reach with hands or arms. The employees must frequently stand, walk, and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee must occasionally sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift up 10 pounds and up to 25 pounds. Vision requirements for this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The employee may occasionally work with the risk of electrical shock. The noise level of the work environment is moderate. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT POLICY: Imperial Trading Co., LLC hiring and employment practices are based on job qualifications, performance, and/or conduct without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, height, weight, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.
AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT: All employees of the Company are employees\xe2\x80\x99 at-will and, as such, are free to resign at any time without reason. The Company, likewise, retains the right to terminate an employee\'s employment at any time with or without reason or notice. Nothing contained in the Employee Handbook, or any document provided to the employee is intended to be, nor should it be, construed as a guarantee that employment or any benefit will be continued for any period. Any salary figures provided to an employee in annual or monthly terms are stated for the sake of convenience or to facilitate comparisons and are not intended and do not create an employment contract for any specific period.