Assistant Category Manager. Beer, Wine & Spirits

Company: New Leaf Community Markets, Inc.
Location: Santa Cruz
Posted on: September 21, 2023

Job Description:

Assistant Category Manager. Beer, Wine & Spirits New Leaf Corporate, 1101 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America Req #4595 Who is New Leaf Community Markets? New Leaf Community Markets opened its doors as a small cooperative in 1985 on the Westside of Santa Cruz. We learned early on, that the well-being of our guests, staff and community starts with sustainable, locally produced food. Farm-to-table all the way! We've partnered with open-minded producers who care as deeply about our people, the planet and social justice as we do, from day one.

Our mission is to be a purveyor of good - from offering the best local and natural foods, to taking care of our staff, community, and environment. We love what we do, and we know that it's our passionate staff who make it all possible. We're committed to taking care of our people by leading the way with progressive employment practices.
Every day, we work to create an atmosphere of openness, caring, trust, and fairness - a place where staff can thrive, and differences are celebrated. As a member of the New Leaf Community Markets team, you can count on an inclusive, friendly environment and a welcoming group of inspired individuals who love people, great food, and being a part of a community gathering place.

Why You'll Love Working at New Leaf Community Markets

• Amazing Benefits Package - Including comprehensive medical, dental, vision and 401k at 24 hours a week.
• Great earning potential with the opportunity for growth within our family of brands
• Paid Parental Leave available
• Lifestyle Scheduling
• Public Transport Benefits
• Paid Community Service Hours
• 30% discount at all New Leaf Community Markets, Bristol Farms and Lazy Acres Natural Market locations Ingredients You'll Bring to the Table: You love food and have the ability to create an experience that is beyond the everyday.You have a positive attitude and work well in a team environment. You can connect with people and reach a level of hospitality that exceeds guests' expectations.You are warm, outgoing, authentically amazing and want to be inspired, challenged and proud of where you work.
  
  You embody the spirit of New Leaf Community Markets core values: Community, Integrity, Sustainability, Quality, and Respect; and you are driven by our mission to nourish and sustain our community by using business as a force for change.
  
  What's on Your Plate: Job Title:Assistant Category Manager - Beer, Wine & Spirits Reports To:Director - Beer, Wine & Spirits FLSA Status:Exempt
  
  Summary Responsible for the supporting overall direction, growth and execution of the Northern California region's Beer, Wine & Spirits programs.Accountable for financial performance of the programs, including driving and achieving sales, margin and waste goals. Provides leadership, direction and mentorship for our Beer and Wine teams.
  Essential Duties and Responsibilities
  General Requirements:
  • Understands and models our company culture. Acts as a steward of company resources, mission, vision and values. Promotes sustainable business practices.
  • Embraces an agile work environment and guides others through change and continuous improvement.
  • Builds community within and outside of New Leaf Community Markets. Works in stores and other offsite events and locations as needed to support our core business and community.
  • Works cooperatively and positively with fellow team members, customers and vendors spiriting a respectful workplace where everyone is welcome.
  • Demonstrates ability to manage own timeand models a flexible work style. Shifts tasks as priorities and circumstances change based on needs and conditions of department. Creative with problem-solving and is solutions-oriented.
  • Utilizes strategic thinking, data and industry knowledge, and calculated risk-taking to create competitive advantage.
  • Communication style is confident, informative, adaptive to different styles and effective.
  • Gives and receives feedback in a constructive manner demonstrating company Speak Up culture.
  • Maintains confidentiality and exercise good judgment around sensitive information.
  • Adheres to work and food safety policies set forth by the company and all local, state and federal regulatory agencies. Contributes to store and office cleanliness, maintains equipment.
  • Observes all company rules and policies. Understands and complies with specific department or location guidelines, tasks and responsibilities. Position Responsibilities:
    • Assists Director in leading the Beer and Wine departments to ensure that the overall company's objectives are met regarding financials, vendor partnerships, product assortment, and supply chain.
    • Assists in developing a product mix that meets company goals of variety, innovation and margin targets while tailored to meet the needs of each of the neighborhoods we serve.
    • Supports Director with review of assortment and product selection to ensure we are meeting our sourcing objective.
    • Works with Director to identify and implement efficiencies and strategic innovations. Communicates program expectations to ensure successful store execution.
    • Maximizes sales and margin potential for Beer and Wine departments. Communicates a clear vision on financial priorities.
    • Assists with user-friendly program design and strategy development aimed to achieve financial goals, including sales goals, margin targets and waste improvement.
    • Monitors program execution via weekly store visits, and provide a written follow up of store execution and action steps with department and store leadership. Works alongside store staff and / or our vendor partners when needed.
    • Partners with Wine and Beer leadership and merchandising teams to quickly resolve issues impacting store operations, in stock conditions, inventory, margin, waste and store conditions. Identifies and communicates best practices, with support of store leadership teams.
    • Monitors accuracy and consistency of departments systems and required record keeping. Including, but not limited to:Utilization of Online Inventory Management System for all functions PO's, inventory process and procedure, transfer recording, purchase journal/invoice tracking, food safety, and others, as necessary.
    • Assists Director with identification and execution of pricing and advertising programs/ marketing materials .
    • Assists in monitoring and performing routine analysis of categories, and program performance, making recommendations and changes that keep us relevant and financially sound.
    • Supports Director with period end financial reporting and the development of proposed action items. Executes those actions once agreed upon by Director.
    • Builds and maintains strong relationships with vendor partners, upholding our Pledge to Vendors to ensure we are the "best place to do business" while nurturing local supplier relationships that support our local food economies.
    • Provides guidance to the Beer and Wine teams about changing customer trends. Gather insights from internal and external resources to enable fact-based decision-making. Assists in product training.
    • Collaborates with store leadership teams and serves as a resource for the professional development of Beer and Wine Managers. Provides insightful, helpful and consistent performance feedback.
    • Performs other duties and tasks as assigned. This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities and requirements, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function within our company. New Leaf Community Markets reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet changing industry or business needs as necessary.
      Qualifications
      • Friendly and service oriented, with a passion for food and cooking.
      • Bachelor's Degree in Business or related fields or equivalent experience preferred
      • Minimum of 1 year of experience working in operations in a multi-unit environment, with strong financial and operational acumen and demonstrated success in running and growing a retail service department.
      • Previous experience with program development in a retail service environment.
      • Experience in purchasing and merchandising retail products.
      • Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel, with skills to learn new programs and systems.
      • Collaborative, strategic thinker and problem solver, with a demonstrated ability to prioritize and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
      • Experience working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with ability to respond to urgent job responsibilities as they arise and flexible when priorities redirect.
      • Excellent interpersonal skills, including tact and diplomacy, to collaborate, negotiate and communicate effectively and professionally with cross-functional partners at all levels in the company.
      • Self-motivated, with ability to work independently and in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment.
      • Ability to maintain a flexible schedule in order to meet needs of the department.
      • Valid Alcohol Server Permit. Language Skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills required .
        Mathematical Skills Basic to intermediate math and computation skills required.
        Reasoning Ability Skills to read, understand and follow through on verbal and written instructions. Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise good judgment around sensitive information. Strong analytical, critical thinking and decision-making skills.
        Knowledge of English Should have the ability to speak, read and understand English.
        Physical Demands This position works consistently at a light work level and may be asked to work on occasion at a medium or heavy work level when supporting stores or other offsite events. Frequently required to sit, walk, reach and grasp. Occasionally required to be on feet with a mix of standing and walking throughout shift. Up to occasionally, dependent on location, required to climb stairs, step stool and /orladders. This position works with standard office equipment. May be required to use the following tools and equipment when working in stores or offsite; baler, hand truck, POS, industrial kitchen equipment (i.e. blast chiller, grill, knives/blades, oven, grills, scales, etc.) and basic housekeeping / janitorialitems.
        Work occurs in office, a variety of off-site environments and in a grocery store environment which includes surfaces that can be wet and slippery, moderate noise level, and temperature extremes in controlled environments in the cooler and freezer, and depending on location, working outside in all temperatures. There may be exposure to certain allergens and / or chemicals. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and other applicable state or local law, we will make reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.
        Travel Ability to travel regularly to store locations, trade shows and other off-site locations throughout the United States. Valid Driver License and vehicle required.
        • New Leaf Corporate, 1101 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
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Keywords: New Leaf Community Markets, Inc., Santa Cruz , Assistant Category Manager. Beer, Wine & Spirits, Executive , Santa Cruz, California