Our Brands Manager in Sterling Heights, Warren, Rochester Hills, Mi

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Center Store Our Brands Manager will be an integral partner alongside the Merchandising Field Specialist team, supporting districts and stores with specific focus on profitably growing Our Brands sales and execution. Each OB Manager will be responsible for a pre-determined number of stores (approximately 35) and will be responsible for communicating opportunities/successes to those stores.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provide customer assistance and have a working knowledge of Kroger’s Customer 1st Strategy
• Align with the Center Store Field Specialist for assigned districts acting as the Our Brands Expert/Ambassador
• Identify incremental sales opportunities: review and discuss Enterprise and Division sales plans, identify incremental display opportunities and ordering needs; Ensure Our Brands execution is a priority
• Collaborate with GO division analyst assigned to division.  Monitor OB division performance, review areas of opportunity with division field team members and stores and identify/resolve issues. 
• Distribute/discuss Brand Spankin’ News / new item communication with division district teams and store management
• Support key Our Brand promotional activities
• Complete G.O. & Division Our Brand survey requests, competitive audits, recall audits, etc.
• Implement GO/Division plans for Our Brands products at new/remodel store openings in assigned stores.
• Participate in all division/district meetings to educate team on Our Brands items/sales plans
• Participate in all district store walks and special events in terms of Our Brands
• Ensure execution of Our Brand Fixture Programs. Walk stores to identify execution opportunities on sales plan items including pricing issues, tags, rotation needs, etc.
• Monitor competition in terms of store brand merchandising and pricing
• Must remain qualified as an insurable driver
• During periods of reduced regular scheduled hours due to circumstances including but not limited to holidays or unforeseen urgent customer support needs, employees may be responsible for additional store support outside of their normal essential job functions

Must be able to perform essential job function of this position with or without reasonable accommodations

MINIMUM POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• 4-year degree in Business Marketing, Operations, Economics or equivalent education preferred
• 4+ years of retail grocery experience preferred
• Excellent communication skills/ability to communicate (read, write and speak) in fluent English
• Read, understand and insure implementation of plan-o-grams
• Proficient Microsoft office applications including Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong leadership and coaching skills
• Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Computer/internet access with knowledge of email and web-based applications
• Adapt to advancing technology and computer solutions
• Highly motivated self-starter who can work with minimal supervision
• Ability to effectively craft and deliver a message to management
• A smartphone with internet/data access is required. This position may require installation and utilization of an app on your smartphone to complete the requirements of the position
• Must be able to provide personal tape measure and safety gloves to perform essential job functions

MINIMUM PHYSICAL ABILITIES: 

• Must be able to:
  • operate motor vehicle unassisted
  • remain standing and/or walking unassisted for several hours at a time
  • lift, push or pull 50 lbs. or more on a regular basis and occasionally up to 70 lbs.
  • continuously reach up and bend down, reach in all directions and have unlimited upper body mobility
  • have unlimited manual dexterity
  • lift and extend 30 lbs. above the head, sometimes repeatedly
  • tolerate exposure to extreme temperatures (0-90 degrees)

DESIRED PREVIOUS JOB EXPERIENCE:

• Retail grocery store experience with strong merchandising and marketing skills
• Typing/computer skills

COMPETENCIES/SKILLS:

Some of the Competencies/Skills required to successfully perform this position are:

• Adaptability – maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures
• Building Strategic Working Relationships – developing and using collaborative relationships with Merchandising and Category Management teams at local and corporate level to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals
• Building Trust – interacting with Kroger employees, customers and suppliers in a way that gives Kroger Division and Corporate Management confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
• Communication – clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to employees, management and customers in the English language
• Customer Focus – making Kroger customers and their needs a primary focus of one’s actions
• Decision Making – identifying and understanding issues, problems and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences
• Inclusion – appreciating and leveraging the capabilities, insights and ideas of all individuals; working effectively with individuals of diverse style, ability and motivation for a direct effect on business results
• Initiating Action – taking prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive; generating innovative solutions in work situations
• Negotiation – effectively exploring alternatives and positions to reach outcomes that gain the support and acceptance from all parties involved
• Safety Awareness – identifying and correcting conditions that affect employee and customer safety; upholding safety standards
• Self-Starter – prioritizing, organizing and completing workload accurately within allotted time period
• Work Standards – setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed