Category Director, Feminine Hygiene, Shave & Depil (9 month contract)

At Shoppers Drug Mart, we’re innovating health and wellness in Canada. From prescriptions to walk-in clinics, and a beloved loyalty program, we’re caring and supporting our customers in new ways every day.
With more than 1,300 locally owned and operated stores from coast to coast, the Shoppers Drug Mart network is more than a great place to shop, it’s a great place to work. We’re committed to building our talented team who champion collaboration, kindness and inclusivity. Join our team, and help recognize a healthy future for your career and for all Canadians.

Why this role is important?

Reporting directly to the Vice President, Category Management, the Category Director manages the various product categories, to ensure appropriate mix of product to maximize sales and margin dollars at Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) stores. The Category Director identifies marketing and product related program partnership opportunities with vendors, negotiates product cost and payment terms to maximize margin dollars to generate revenue and increase market share.

Category Management is at the heart of all we do.

A strategic part of our organization, Category Management at Shoppers drives our front store business with innovative house brands, unique marketing opportunities, powerful supplier relationships, and exclusive brands. You will apply entrepreneurial, consulting, management and analytical skills on a daily basis, while executing and delivering real outcomes that drive the bottom line.

We are execution and results focused, and reward our people with a chance to learn, try new things, take more responsibility and get things done.

Duties:

• Meets with existing and potential vendors to maintain a current knowledge of new product offerings and promotions, assess category performance and growth relative to SDM and competitors, refine current strategies and develop and implement additional strategies to attract and motivate customer purchases, realize maximum profitability, grow market share, and increase customer loyalty.
• Monitors product mix listing to ensure timely acquisition of products, appropriate replenishment, suggest changes in purchasing and provide solutions to minimize the impact of backorders.
• Negotiates with vendors to secure cost effective acquisition costs, more efficient packs, unique and competitive promotional opportunities including first to market initiatives and exclusive listings, in addition to securing revenue funding for SDM marketing initiatives (i.e. PC Optimum, Flyers, Marketing campaigns) and inside programs.
• Review and monitors listing and product changes to ensure accurate and timely processing, protect the integrity of all product related data and ensure all administrative requirements are completed and processed as required.
• Negotiates, schedules and implements timely promotional events to build consumer awareness and generate sales.
• Manages and monitors funds in/out accounts to ensure the revenue and spend accounts balance and accurately reflect the results of the category.
• Liaises with the Planogram team to develop and publish annual updates for all plan-o-grams to ensure the item assortment and shelf presentation remains current and best reflects the anticipated market trends.
• Oversees workloads and provides staff supervision to ensure that work is done accurately, efficiently and complies with policies, procedures and standards as well as best working practices.
• Provides guidance, motivation, and performance review including hiring and terminating employees, to maintain and enhance competency levels, identify future training requirements and achieve goals to increase performance.

Skills and Experience:

• This position requires an advanced level of initiative and judgment in order to organize and prioritize tasks, workload and projects. Courtesy, tact and diplomacy are required in dealing with colleagues in every day working relationships.
• Requires an ability to apply concepts and theories to improve functions or units.
• Manages a function or unit by focusing on achievement of objectives.
• Requires specialized interpersonal skills to resolve situations with colleagues where there may be some level of conflict, stress or uncertainty.
• Provides solutions by using imaginative approaches where constructive thinking and innovation are required.
• Utilizes decision making skills to achieve specific organizational objectives with consideration given to their impact on other work groups.
• Adaptable to set and prioritize work with varying exceptions. Able to work with diverse personalities and styles.
• Advanced negotiation, persuasive and communication skills to secure favourable category plans.
• Advanced understanding of quality standards relative to merchandising, marketing and promotional practices and procedures.
• Computer skills to produce effective reports, documents and presentations.
• Communicates with clarity, verbally and in one on one or group situations, or over the telephone.
• Communicates well in writing by composing clear documents; facility with editing and/or proof-reading is required.

Education & Job Knowledge:

Post secondary education equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in Retail, Marketing, Merchandising or equivalent.

Experience:

5-7 years of retail, merchandising, marketing experience.

Why work at Shoppers Drug Mart?
Acting as consultants, supporting internal customers and the Associate-Owners, you will get experience unique to the retail industry while working for an award-winning national brand. Benefit from a competitive pay program and online learning through Academy.
Take ownership of your work and find more ways to care about your work, co-workers, customers and community.

How You’ll Succeed:

At Shoppers Drug Mart Inc., we seek great people to continually strengthen our culture. We believe great people model our values, are authentic, build trust and make connections.

If that sounds like you, and you are open-minded, responsive to change and up to the challenges provided in a fast-paced retail environment, apply today.

Employment Type:

Full time

Type of Role:

Temporary (Fixed Term)

Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. recognizes Canada's diversity as a source of national pride and strength. We have made it a priority to reflect our nation’s evolving diversity in the products we sell, the people we hire, and the culture we create in our organization. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired.

In addition, we believe that compliance with laws is about doing the right thing. Upholding the law is part of our Code of Conduct – it reinforces what our customers and stakeholders expect of us.

Please Note: If you have Employee Self Service (ESS) on Workday, apply to this job via the Workday application.