Senior Category Merchant

Whole Foods Market is seeking a dynamic Category Merchant to lead our Meat & Seafood Ready to Cook & Sausage categories in Austin, TX. Are you a data-driven strategist with a passion for driving customer centric programs? Join our team as a Senior Category Merchant and drive innovation, profitability, and customer satisfaction in our Meat & Seafood Ready to Cook and Sausage categories.In this crucial role, you'll develop category goals, strategies, and assortments tailored to our customers. You'll collaborate cross-functionally to execute category resets, manage supplier relationships, and deliver business results through data-rich, customer-centric product selection, pricing, presentation, and promotion. You'll get to contribute to a team that is leading the industry in advancing animal welfare and sustainability standards. This role is based in Austin, TX, with an expectation of being in the Store Support office five days a week.

Responsibilities:

• Strategize & Innovate: Create data-driven customer centric category strategies that leverage customer insights, market trends, and competitive analysis.
• Drive Success: Take ownership of the financial performance for your category. Develop and execute pre-season strategies that align with our business goals. 
• Curate Assortments: Collaborate with suppliers to bring the best products to our shelves. Lead line reviews, assortment planning, and item forecasting. 
• Pricing & Promotion: Help shape pricing strategies that balance profitability with customer value. Work with marketing teams to support impactful promotional events. 
• Supplier Relationships: Build and maintain strong partnerships with suppliers. Negotiate for early access to new products, exclusive items, and competitive costs. 
• Item Management: Maintain accurate recipe, cost, and item level data that complies with internal standards and regulatory requirements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Merchandising Planning, Operations, Procurement, and other teams to ensure smooth execution of category goals. 
• Analyze & Adapt: Monitor category performance and adapt strategies based on data insights. Lead testing initiatives to continuously improve our offerings. 
•  Brand Advocacy. Consistently represent and promote our brand values, products and mission, acting as a trusted representative internally and externally.
• Mentorship: Share your knowledge and experience by coaching new team members. Be a resource for the wider team on category management best practices. 

Skills & Experience 

• Experience & Education: BA/BS degree and 4-6 years of relevant experience with a proven track record of success, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Category Management Skill Set: Knowledge of retail business, including all aspects of pricing, merchandising, retail operations, labor impacts, negotiation, and financial analysis and reporting including new product development and management. 
• Analytical Skills: Proficient in pulling financial reports, analyzing business trends, and assessing underlying drivers of results.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Adept at learning new tools and systems.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Strong cross-functional collaboration skills and the ability to influence outcomes in a complex, fast-paced environment. 
• Creativity & Problem-Solving: A creative mindset with a knack for solving problems and managing ambiguity. Ability to multitask and thrive under pressure. 
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences. Strong listening, empathy, and partnership skills to work cross-functionally and build trust. 

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and a hunger to see your work every day represented on the shelf for millions of customers to see? Apply now and join Whole Foods Market's mission to nourish people and the planet with the finest quality foods. 

At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs. Whole Foods Market works with job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter to promote opportunities at our company. Please be aware that other career sites may not be accurate or up to date and may even be fraudulent. We encourage and recommend all candidates to apply via our site.