Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Work with Division and Corporate to Develop and achieve budgeted expectations for fresh department sales, gross margins, gains, promotional spends, and expense control in the Meat & Seafood, Deli/Bakery, & Produce departments. Report and identify variances to the Vice-President Merchandising.

1. Monitor service level goals, proper turns, pricing gains, and assurance of inventory levels necessary to achieve budgeted sales expectations.
2. Participate in the negotiations with vendors to drive sales.
3. Ensure product quality from vendors to retail member stores.
4. Direct the Quality Control team and the functions at the division level. Work closely with division and corporate procurement teams to maintain quality and freshness standards.
5. Select, train, develop and appraise departmental personnel to ensure qualified staffing for all fresh department positions. Develop a well trained staff and build bench strength for future promotions and responsibilities.
6. Make timely visits to member group headquarters and individual stores.
7. Assist and guide regional product sourcing and supply.
8. Assist with formulating the merchandising strategy for food shows. Direct the coordination and execution of products, people, and events of the food show events.
9. Maintain contact with key regional suppliers to assist in driving sales in the division.
10. Support company philosophy and policy in accordance with regard to trade, associates and retail members.
11. Develop and maintain a professional, supportive and cordial relationship with all member store retailers.
12. Coordinate with District Sales Managers to determine member merchandising, product, and marketing needs.
13. Collaborating with the Sales Managers, manage fresh department field specialists and QC associates in the Meat & Seafood, Deli/Bakery & Produce departments. Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these associates, and the respective business units.
14. Fulfill the supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies, procedures and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, training of associates, planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Degree or equivalent; or three to five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Must be able to speak and write in a professional manner.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Strong mathematical skills, including the ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.

REASONING ABILITY: Must possess deductive, analogical, cause and effect and be a critical thinker.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Must possess a valid driver’s license.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) is the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, serving over 1,100 member companies and over 3,400 locations throughout 31 states from 9 wholesale Divisions. The consolidated run-rate sales for AWG are $12.3billion. In addition to its cooperative wholesale operations, the company also operates subsidiary companies that provide certain real estate and supermarket development services, print and digital marketing services, health and beauty care, general merchandise, pharmaceutical products, specialty foods, and natural and organic products.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Vacation, Holiday, and Sick Time
• 401(k) with 4% match along with 3 other contributions
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Basic & Supplemental Life and AD&D
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Wellness Program
• Yearly Holiday Bonus