Category Manager – Tobacco

General Description:
The Category Manager of Tobacco will be accountable for developing & leading the strategic direction of, and advancing all aspects of assigned categories, within a total Tobacco product assortment led by the Senior Category Manager. Category Manager will also support Sr. CM with additional tasks/needs of the Cigarette/Tobacco business unit.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Drive Sales/Traffic through Effective Category Management:
•    Develop, manage, and communicate sales plans and activities for assigned categories and support additional categories as needed.
•    Follow overall merchandising strategy and end-to-end procedures to manage product assortment, retail pricing, cost management, and sales plan activation.
•    Negotiate and influence Manufacturer activity for assigned categories: cost, bill-backs, allowances, terms, co-op media spend, and other resources/opportunities.
•    Collaborate with Logistics, Wholesalers, Manufacturers, and Senior Category Manager, to ensure stable supply of product assortment to stores. 
•    Track key metrics (KPIs), inclusive of syndicated sales and share information to verify, adjust, and iterate plans as effective.

Vendor/Manufacturer Management:
•    Own and manage manufacturer relationship for assigned categories as the primary National contact. Educate, and influence based on company & category strategy.
•    Facilitate vendor meetings and negotiate for delegated categories. Support Product Director and Senior Category Manager on day-to-day activities that review of pricing strategy and the preparation for and engagement in vendor meetings related to product assortment architecture, promotional strategy, and funding reconciliation.
•    Refine current assortment, with focus towards introducing innovation based on key store and customer segmentation as part of a Weekly Merchandising Cycle.

Operations Support:
•    Educate, support, and troubleshoot in support of Operations based on assortment, programs, and activations that are store facing in assigned categories. Communicate w/ Operational leadership based on CSA/marketplace understanding and opportunities
•    Develop and oversee in-store testing of potential new products, concepts and promotional activity within delegated categories. Optimize display management opportunities within assigned category and assigned zones.
•    Support testing activity including preparation/delivering communication materials, tracking of results/feedback to Test areas/stores, verification and feedback.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
*Education: Bachelors/4 Yr Degree 
*Experience: 2-5 years within retail, convenience and/or category management
*Strong analytical skills
*Effective communication
*Negotiating experience with manufacturers around promotional activity, product assortment, etc.
*Understanding of financial methodology to determine costs and to develop annual business plan
*Proficient in Microsoft Office (Power Point, Excel, One Note)
*Knowledge of Power BI, Circana, iRi reporting

Physical Requirements:
*Walking required during market visits
*Stooping and bending required if participating in backbar re-sets, re-merchandising of product, creating product tests, etc.
*Standing required when presenting to groups
*Repetitive Motion required

If an hourly or salary range is included in this ad it represents the range 7-Eleven in good faith believes is the range of compensation for this role at the time of this posting. The Company may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in this state. This range may be modified in the future. No amount is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable under the terms and conditions of the applicable policies and plans. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, long-term incentive compensation, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.