Address
Form of workPurpose:
The VP Central Operations and Merchandising is responsible for leading the strategic direction, metric creation, communication, and consistency of standard operations across the following departments: Pricing, Store Operations Specialists, Space Planning, Asset Protection, Analytics, Lean/Process Improvement, and the Customer Call Center. Leads teams to develop and implement policies, procedures and plans that would promote performance and efficiency and adjusts operations to maximize resources and avoid loss. This role will contribute to driving measurable outcomes as they align to the strategic plan. This role collaborates with the CEO, Retail to lay out the strategic direction and to ensure the business plans reflect local, regional and industry knowledge and drive sales. Ensures compliance with all industry, corporate and government regulations. Open to considering remote with travel for the position.
Job Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
Performance Metrics:
o Establish and monitor key performance indicators to track operational performance, analyze data, and make data-driven decisions.
Store Operations Specialists:
o Manages a team of Store Operations Specialists who focus on coaching, teaching and training store teams to achieve high operational performance.
o Collaborates with Operations leadership to identify locations as having operation issues related to sales growth, profit, expense control, customer satisfaction, merchandising, execution, compliance and/or remodel activity and deploys Store Operations Specialists.
Pricing:
o Works with and provides guidance and direction to marketing to be aligned with banner goals.
o Supervises and ensures that the promo activities meet the go-to-market strategies. Directs the execution of the promo strategy to ensure alignment with other related strategies.
o Approves/executes pricing strategies and decisions. Ensures pricing strategies and initiatives are competitive in the market to achieve financial goals.
Space Management:
o Manages Schematics team responsible for banner strategies, processes, and communication in schematic development.
o Researches and recommends schematic plans and creates business cases for capital expenditures.
Asset Protection:
o Collaborates with the Asset Prevention teams to create and promote realistic programs that foster a safe shopping and working environment for our customers and team members as well as protecting company assets.
o Partners with the team to ensure that all company policies, local, state and federal laws are adhered to in the execution of internal and external theft investigations.
Lean/Process Improvement:
o Leads strategic, transformational, and operational improvement projects to drive growth, efficiency and productivity for the company.
o Foster a culture of continuous improvement by promoting innovation and best practices.
o Maintains, prioritizes, and delegates project and task schedules for team to ensure alignment with plan.
Budget/P&L Responsibilities:
o Shared responsibility for the overall Banner P&L.
o Collaborates with leadership teams to provide financial projection and review, including budgeting, forecasting and financial performance analysis.
Customer Care Center:
o Direct and manage all activities relating to the delivery of effective customer service.
o Develops plans and targets for the team that ensure efficiency, productivity, and the provision of customer support procedures that nurture continuous improvement.
Managerial Responsibilities:
o Builds and leads a high-performing team, providing guidance, coaching and support. Performs annual review process for direct reports. Responsible for succession planning for entire department.
o Ensures a culture of accountability through the development and implementation of polices and processes.
Communication:
o Maintains formal and informal channels of upward, downward, and lateral communication, while fostering discussion, suggestion, and expression of thought and innovation
Performs other relevant job duties as required.
Scope:
Job Requirements:
Relevant Experience, Education, Certification, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Bachelor's degree preferred.
A minimum of 10 years' experience leading retail operations teams.
In-depth understanding of store Operations and Merchandising methodologies and practices (P&L, financial management, etc.). Greater depth of specific department expertise may be required on a case-by-case basis.
Analytical Skills: Strong knowledge base in supermarket retail and an understanding of consumer behavior in relation to product performance; must carry a detailed understanding of cause-effect relations between operational levers and performance (assortment/price vs. volume/margins) by utilizing financial, statistical, merchandising, marketing, and/or consumer research background. Strong financial background
Interpersonal Skills: Proven ability to work successfully across all areas of the company; can successfully monitor performance; strong client management skills, particularly working with vendors; ability to influence and lead effective partnerships with the banners; can thrive in a complicated matrix environment.
Innovation: Champions new ideas and initiatives and creates an environment that supports innovation; leverages fresh perspectives, breakthrough ideas, and new paradigms to create value in the market.
Negotiation Skills: Demonstrates ability to negotiate contracts and terms in order to gain maximum advantage for costs and vendor funding opportunities. Experience in developing complicated and national contracts.
Strategic Skills: Demonstrates ability to understand and think big picture; delivers category plans and programs that compliment both the corporate and departmental strategies leading to strong category sales and profit performance.
Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to develop and maintain effective business relationships within and outside of the company.
Technical Skills: Well developed computer aptitude with proficient skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office; ability to adapt to and learn new systems quickly.
Physical Environment:
Some work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
Incumbent may stand for long periods of time.
Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephone, and other office equipment during normal workday.
Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in completion of job duties.
Must be available to work flexible or unusual hours as needed, including weekends.
Some travel may be required.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by the employees assigned to this job. All employees must comply with Company policy and applicable laws. The responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified may vary within each department and/or location.
All descriptions have been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and basic duties have been included. Peripheral tasks, only incidentally related to each position, have been excluded. Requirements, skills, and abilities included have been determined to be the minimal standards required to successfully perform the positions. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements delineated be interpreted as all-inclusive. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. UNFI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all. - M/F/Veteran/Disability. VEVRAA Federal Contractor
