Senior Team Leader - Category Merchant (2 Year Contract) in London

Provides leadership and oversight to the Category Management / Merchandising function, including strategy development, innovation, definition and execution of marketplace differentiators, key supplier partnerships and team development. Responsible for the financial performance of the Category management / Merchandising function. Accountable for all Category Management / Merchandising strategic and operational decisions, including category management, purchasing, procurement and retail operations.

Oversees team efforts to develop category goals & strategies and product assortments through the lens of our core customer, ensuring a strong mix of national brand product relevance, best-in-class local product relevance, and best-in-class private label product relevance - distinguishing Whole Foods Market from our competition.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for the financial performance of assigned high volume, complex, and/or financially significant categories.
• Works with Category Management / Merchandising leadership to help drive change and support WFM evolution to Category Management.
• Develops and executes category promotional planning including planning and executing key promotional events and reacting in-season based on sales performance and the competitive landscape.
• Conducts ongoing analysis of category performance, trends, and competitive assortment and pricing.
• Develops strategic relationships with key suppliers to ensure early insight into new trends and products; early and exclusive access to new items; differentiated product; merchandising and promotions and competitive costs.
• Partners with applicable stakeholders to translate assortment plans into merchandising plans and planograms.
• Engages with applicable stakeholders to ensure effective space planning in support of program plans and strategies.
• Leads and ensures an integrated approach with business partners in vendor negotiations and cost increase justifications.
• Serves as thought-leader in pricing and category analysis.
• Provides leadership to Team Members and Merchandising leaders.
• Drives change in the merchandising organization as WFM moves to Category Management.
• Coaches and develops Team Members to ensure performance improvement, career development, and long-term success.

Skills

• Able to provide ongoing leadership and oversight, ensuring goals, deadlines and budgets are met.
• Ensures alignment between team objectives / initiatives and the organization’s overall vision, values, mission, and business strategy.
• Able to develop strong relationships and engage in strategic conversation with senior-level stakeholders, internally and externally.
• Able to collaborate cross-functionally and with category and business leaders to develop mitigation processes and enhance business sustainability long-term.
• Demonstrates clear understanding of WFM’s core business, supply chain and customer / market / supplier interfaces.

Education & Experience

• BA/BS degree and 6-8 years’ relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 2-4 years leadership experience.

The wage range for this position is £70,600.00-£95,310.00 Annual, commensurate with experience. Whole Foods Market offers "Whole Benefits" which includes a wide range of benefits for Full and Part-Time Team Members.