Category Manager, Food Service - Minot, United States - Parkland

Description

** Category Manager, Food Service**

**Job Category****:** Retail Operations **Requisition Number****:** CATEG03928 Showing 1 location **Job Details**

**Description**

Summary:

Proven track record and ability to create, develop and implement innovative Food Service programs that will differentiate Parklands On the Run convenience store brand.

Responsible for the strategy and financial performance of the Food Service categories, driving sales and profitability. Develop / evolve Parklands Food Service business including analysis, planning, and implementation to align with Parklands broader retail and store merchandising strategies.

Oversee the design, development, and deployment of new / enhanced offers including equipment selection and procurement, product and ingredient selection, supply chain, food safety, labor, operations standards and compliance, and waste.

Lead category management of the various offers including product assortment, pricing, placement, and promotions.

Partner with Retail Operations, Marketing, IT, and Finance to advance category-related initiatives, including pricing, promotions, technology, and operational compliance.

Manage and grow relationships and lead negotiations with external vendors and partners, including branded / franchised Food Service partners, as well as equipment suppliers. Manage delivery of sales and operational commitments to Parklands Food Service vendors, including its branded and franchised partners.

Responsibility

Category Management

Responsible for strategy, analysis, execution and performance of the Food Service categories, which includes food (i.e., proprietary / branded / franchised for different day parts, for different occasions such as hot food, bakery, or sandwiches) and dispensed beverages (i.e. coffee, frozen, fountain).

Meet or exceed budget for Food Service P&L including sales, gross margin, labor, and waste. Develop and execute plans and programs to support in-year and long-term sales and margin objectives, spanning product assortment, pricing, and promotions. Design and manage programs for both Parklands company and dealer operations.

Develop / evolve category strategy for Food Service including analysis, planning, and implementation to align with Parklands broader retail and store merchandising strategies.

Collect and synthesize proprietary and third-party consumer, product, market and competitive intelligence as to be a leading expert on Food and Dispensed beverages in the US.

Communications

Collaborate with Retail Food Service Operations on design, development, and deployment of new / enhanced products including equipment selection and procurement, product and ingredient selection, supply chain, food safety, labor, operations standards and compliance, and waste.

Support design of operating procedures and deployment of training materials for new and existing Food Service programs (e.g., food safety, ordering, receiving, storing, preparing, and serving).

Partner with Retail Operations, Marketing, IT, and Finance to advance category-related initiatives, including pricing, promotions, technology, and operational compliance.

Establish and grow relationships, lead negotiations, and manage commitments to vendors and partners, including branded and franchised partners.

Prepare memos, presentations, and other communications for review and approval by Parklands senior management and leadership team.

Qualifications:

Required:

At least ten years of food service experience including category and product management of food, as well as hot and cold dispensed beverages demonstrating: strong category management, marketing, operational, financial, consultative, and communication skills; leadership in defining and implementing projects; a proven record of positive business results; and an increasing level of responsibility.

A deep understanding of food and dispensed beverage offers, programs, equipment, ingredients, menu development, operations, strategy, reporting, systems, tools and knowledge of consumers, competitors, and market intel.

Ability to manage and motivate functional teams responsible for strategy, operations, and special projects related to Food Service, including Merchandising, Operations, Marketing, IT, and Finance.

Strong operational and financial acumen, and analytical ability to guide day-to-day decisions.

Driven to improve the skillset of employees for both the benefit of Parkland and individual career development.

Strong ability in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and other tools.

Optional:

Gas station and convenience store experience is an asset.

University degree in related field is an asset.

Financial Responsibilities:

For Parklands retail company and consigned dealer businesses in the US:

Food Service category sales and gross margin at Parklands 100 retail convenience stores.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Direct 2 x Category Coordinators (Hot/Chilled Food, Coffee/Bakery)

Decision Making

Examples of typical decisions this position would be required to make:

Give an example of a decision that this position would automatically escalate to someone else to make.

1) Project or capital expenditures above Parklands approval hierarchy guidelines.

2) Food service sales and margin budgets or decisions material enough to impact outcomes in this area, such as the expansion or discontinuation of food service offers.

3) Changes to organizational structure, most notably FTE count.

?Follow existing policies/procedures

?Recommend changes to existing policies/procedures

?Make changes to existing policies/procedures

?Create new policies/procedures

Please elaborate on the checked boxes above and provide an example.

For example:

Follow existing policies / procedures. Role will follow policies / procedures related to category management, including planning, performance, pricing and promotions.

Recommend changes to existing policies/procedures. Role will be responsible for ensuring the team is continuously stress-testing category management policies and procedures and recommending improvements. The role will initiate, review, and approve recommended changes from the team.

Make changes to existing policies/procedures. Role will observe how category management policies and procedures are functioning and will motivate or enact change as needed to improve effectiveness and efficiencies.

Create new policies / procedures. Role will design and implement procedures for elements of Food Service that may not already be captured in other category management procedures (e.g., service level monitoring for commissary partners).

Working Conditions:

General office environment (prolonged sitting/eye strain from computer use, deadlines, indoor air quality/temperatures, lighting, etc.)

Driving/travel for extended periods of time (i.e. more than five hours of business travel per week)

**Qualifications**

**Skills**

**Behaviors**

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**Education**

**Experience**

**Licenses & Certifications**