Company Name: Kroger General Office
Position Type: Employee
FLSA Status: Exempt

Oversee the category vision and strategic planning process for Our Brands. Direct the cross-functional team in the development of our long-term strategies in Grocery and Center Store categories. Provide guidance to the leadership of the Our Brands Sales, Sourcing and Procurement for vendor selection, product segmentation, sales planning and raw material/finished product procurement. Be a key communicator and educator of the Our Brand mission, vision, key strategies and marketing objectives across the enterprise and external partners (as relevant), to ensure benefit understanding and alignment. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

Essential Job Functions

• Direct vendor selection for all Our Brand products in conjunction with Merchandising
• Lead all product formulations in conjunction with the Branding & Innovation team and Corporate Food Technology
• Participate in product audits, cuttings and innovation meetings
• Oversee and manage all category licensing agreements in conjunction with the Branding & Innovation team and final approval of all product packaging in conjunction with the senior Branding & Innovation team
• Stay abreast of current product/market trends
• Communicate category additions and deletions and any other stock keeping unit (SKU) rationalization activity
• Participate in industry events and support groups such as Grocery and Center Store, Private Label Manufacturing Association, Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing, and other trade associations in conjunction with the Branding & Innovation team
• Direct development of long-term vision, business planning and strategies for key categories, working cross-functionally with senior category planning partner as well as other enterprise stakeholders
• Drive Our Brand growth (sales, volume, profits) by applying knowledge of competitive set, consumer trends and business needs
• Identify need for new brand(s) and/or offerings, given customer needs and business opportunities
• Conduct retail store visits to evaluate store execution
• Serve as a liaison to retail divisions assigned
• Communicate with manufacturing operations and profit & loss (P&L) to ensure alignment with financial goals
• Continually interact with the executives in Merchandising and Manufacturing to communicate our OB category vision and strategic planning process and also to gain alignment and funding on key projects
• Work with Sr. Director of Our Brands, VP of Our Brands, and senior managers to develop budgets, strategic business plans, compensations planning and communication vehicles
• Focus on strategic thinking to communicate our OB vision to leadership and other relevant stakeholders.
• Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Minimum Position Qualifications

• 15+ years retail, sales, or manufacturing experience
• Any previous senior supervisory experience
• Any proven leadership skills in large organizations
• Ability to collaborate and work cooperatively in a team-based environment
• Ability to foster collaborative working relationships
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Understanding of finance / accounting principals

Desired Previous Experience/Education

• Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree
• Any experience in procurement, sales, or operations leadership of a medium to large organization

Education Level: Master's Desired
Required Travel: Up to 25%
Required Certifications/Licenses: None
Position Type: Full-Time
Regions: Any

States: Ohio; Alabama; Alaska; American Samoa; Arizona; Arkansas; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; District of Columbia; Federated States of Micronesia; Florida; Georgia; Guam; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Marshall Islands; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Northern Mariana Islands; Oklahoma; Oregon; Palau; Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; Vermont; Virgin Islands; Virginia; Washington; West Virginia; Wisconsin; Wyoming
Keywords: our brands, own brands, private label, director, category strategy, category management

Jobs at Kroger: At Kroger, we hire people who have a passion for helping others and who want to build a relationship with our Customers. No matter what stage of your career, you can build your future at Kroger. We look for people who want more, aspire to be more and work hard to achieve their goals. Our focus on keeping the Customer first is what makes us successful. As the largest traditional grocery chain in the U.S. and one of the world's largest retailers, we employee more nearly half a million Associates across 35 states. We offer many opportunities not only in our stores, but in Manufacturing, Logistics, Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, and many other fields.

Company Overview: Kroger Family of Companies employs nearly half a million associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless shopping experience under a variety of banner names. At The Kroger Co., we are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit®. We are committed to creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. Careers with The Kroger Co. and our family of companies offer competitive wages, flexible schedules, benefits and room for advancement.

Posting Notes: OH || Cincinnati || 1014 Vine Street || 45202 || Kroger General Office || [[mfield2]] || Our Brands || Employee || Exempt || Full-Time || None