SENIOR CATEGORY MANAGER - DELI & BAKERY - CORPORATE

Job Details Job Location Corporate Headquarters - Seattle, WA Position Type Full Time Salary Range $36.55 - $54.82 Hourly Job Shift Morning Description About Us: Uwajimaya, a family-owned business, and a cornerstone of Asian grocery retailing since 1928, is seeking dedicated individuals to join our dynamic team. With a legacy of excellence and a commitment to providing exceptional customer experiences, Uwajimaya has grown to become the premier destination for Asian food culture in the Pacific Northwest. Who We're Looking For: We are seeking individuals who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, driven to excel in their roles, and motivated to contribute to our vibrant team. Whether you're a seasoned professional or eager to start your career, we welcome candidates from all backgrounds who share our enthusiasm for food, customer service, and Asian culture. We offer: A flexible, friendly, and diverse work environment Competitive starting wages Employee discounts on food and gift items Paid holidays from day one Excellent health benefits Retirement plan Paid time off Long term disability Life insurance Opportunities for growth and advancement Supplemental insurance options available Position Summary : The Senior Category Manager Deli & Bakery, under the guidance of the Director of Category Management, is responsible for developing and executing strategic plans to manage assortment, as well as to drive sales, profitability, and market share in Uwajimaya Deli & Bakery departments. The Senior Category Manager Deli & Bakery will create, curate, and own in-store and central kitchen scratch made assortments, as well as third party vendor made fresh and packaged assortments. This role requires an understanding of Japanese & Pan Asian foods, service deli operations, and recipe creation, as well as vendor and supply chain management. The Candidate should have experience in service deli or food service operations, supply chain, and retail category management. The Candidate should possess strong interpersonal communication skills. The Senior Category Manager Deli & Bakery directly oversees the Deli Category Assistant. Fluency in Japanese, Cantonese, or Mandarin is a plus, but not required. Position's Key Responsibilities : Develop and implement category strategies that align with overall business objectives and promote Japanese and Pan-Asian assortments. Conduct market analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and competitive insights. Optimize product assortment, pricing, and promotions to drive sales and profitability. Analyze sales performance and customer feedback to make data-driven decisions. Work with store Deli Managers to develop new Japanese and Pan Asian products for central kitchen and store production. Own and oversee ingredient statements, labeling, and packaging to complement assortment. Responsible for costs, pricing, margin of scratch made assortment in stores and central kitchen. Build and maintain strong relationships with key food service and packaged goods suppliers and vendors. Negotiate contracts, terms, and conditions to ensure favorable pricing and supply chain efficiency. Shepherd and incubate new and local on trend vendors into Deli & Bakery assortment. Work closely with corporate marketing and merchandising teams to execute category plans. Ability to influence and collaborate with store deli department managers and teams to implement new changes and processes, ensuring smooth transitions and effective adoption of new initiatives. Coordinate with store operations to ensure effective in-store execution and presentation. Work closely with central kitchen to execute scratch made assortments. Monitor and report on category performance metrics, including sales, margins, and inventory turnover. Develop and implement action plans to address underperforming areas. Conduct consumer research and gather insights to understand shopping behaviors and preferences. Leverage insights to influence category strategy and drive customer satisfaction. Stay close to Asian restaurant and Asian retail grocery food trends. Other duties as assigned. Salary Range from $76,016 to $114,035 annually. Starting at $76,016 annually, Depending on Experience. Qualifications Position Requirements : 5+ years of experience in Service Deli or Bakery, retail category management, and purchasing. Experience in running or managing a commercial kitchen is a plus. 4-year Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in business or related field. Experience with Pan Asian or Japanese food in retail or food service environment. Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and generate actionable insights. Extensive experience negotiating with suppliers and managing retail and food service vendor relationships. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Strong presentation skills. Ability to lead diverse teams and manage through ambiguity. Proficient in Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel and Power Point. Full-time office position based in Seattle Washington. Hybrid work model with one day per week work from home. Regular visits to local Uwajimaya central kitchen and stores to work with Deli store managers to promote recipe and assortment alignment, roll-out new products, and advise on in-store merchandising. Occasional travel (less than 10%) to supplier sites, trade shows, or store locations in Washington and Oregon may be required.

Created: 2024-11-05