Director I Center Store Merchandising

Hannaford Supermarkets started out as a fresh produce vendor in Portland, Maine way back in 1883, and is still connected to those early roots as a local market. Hannaford actively seeks out farmers and producers to join our Local program which celebrates not only local foods, but the preservation of farmland, local traditions and local jobs. The connection we have to the source of our fresh foods is core to the way we do business, becoming the first major supermarket in the United States to document that all its seafood products were sustainably harvested.

Hannaford offers a flexible work environment, with a hybrid work expectation for Home Office based positions of being physically present in the Scarborough Home Office 3 days a week. This expectation serves to nourish our culture, showcase care through flexibility, and strengthen our partnerships.

Direct all efforts of collaborating with the Hannaford Leadership team in the creation and implementation of an Omni-Channel selling organization with a consumer-centric focus through Center Store Merchandising responsibilities. Lead & create the "Commercial Plan" for Center Store and Fresh Merchandising in collaboration with Category Management, Retail Operations and Marketing. Responsible for the portfolio management of all merchandising for Center Store categories to deliver the Hannaford banner strategy in an omnichannel environment by leveraging promotional tactics, off shelf merchandising, ecommerce marketplace, and category shelf allocations. Oversee the implementation and communication of department programs that support the Hannaford overall go to market strategies. Responsible for collaborating with Retail Operations and Category Management to create training, communicate merchandising strategy & programs, leverage & maintain Direct Store Delivery vendor relationships, deliver financial targets, and manage the Voice of Retail escalation process. Work in collaboration with Category Management and Pricing in support of Sales Development, Supplier Relations, Net Contribution Management, and the Development and Execution of Banner Merchandising Strategy. Maintain and determine the appropriate space allocation & adjacencies in new stores, remodels, and prototypes for Center Store Merchandising and assist in the new stores & remodel merchandising and grand openings.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Create the Commercial Plan (including Shopper Marketing, Collaboration with ADUSA, Fresh, Promotions, Seasonal, Demos, etc.) in collaboration with Category, Pricing and Marketing in support of our Omnichannel Environment.

o Store Merchandising Plan

o e-Commerce Plan

o Analyze results and modify plans to maximize profitable sales.

o Present quarterly reviews to Senior Leadership including projected results on future efforts as well as actual results on completed initiatives.

• Lead the Omni Channel Experience for Fresh and Center Store Merchandising, to include bricks and mortar experience combined with the online e-Commerce experience

• Oversee the cross-functional total store merchandising plan (themed merchandising)

• Develop and maintain the portfolio of Banner Planners which are leveraged in Category Managers Cost Negotiations.

• Participate and inform center store efforts in Joint Business Planning report outs.

• Support Category Directors in the portfolio management of Merchandising across Center Store to bring a coordinated shopping experience to life to maximize the customer experience.

• Develop, monitor and report out on measurements of success across all retail programs.

• Manage office team with responsibilities to establish the standard practices, Voice of Retail, retail communication and procedures that facilitate the execution of our merchandising strategy at retail.

• Lead a team of Field Merchandisers to support and partner with Retail Leadership (Vice President & Director Operations Group) ensuring they are an effective resource supporting merchandising programs, initiatives and standard practice. Collect feedback, create resolution in support of operations & merchandising initiatives for center store.

• Collaborate with appropriate functional areas in the development of new store prototype and fixture planning, as well as store remodels in Center Store.

• Manage all capital & marketing requests and test/pilot initiatives across Center Store.

• Responsible for the management of the external sampling company. Identifying measurements of success in support of strategy.

• Responsible for the portfolio management of all Center Store categories in order to deliver banner strategy in our promotional tactics, off shelf merchandising and category shelf allocations.

• Lead the Cross-Merchandising creation, planning and communication within Center Store and across Fresh. Develop Weekly Merchandising plans to include display direction and guidance.

• Key Center Store Merchandising contact for Local item and vendor requests.

• Maintain effective communication with retail operations to ensure awareness and appropriate understanding of strategy, programs, initiates and standard practice.

• Lead and/or serve as a member of key teams and committees as needed

• Responsible for the development, talent planning and performance management of associates. Provide leadership that will motivate employees and function as an effective promoter of change and growth to support a continuous improvement in culture.

• Demonstrates a willingness and ability to adapt to change and accepts ownership for leading and supporting others through the process. Seeks, values, and respects diversity in associates, customers, and business partners.

• Develop, lead and deliver an appropriate strategy for assortment and assign shelf allocations in collaboration with appropriate category leadership.

• Manage the financial budgets for implementation with cycle resets, projects, and remodels.

• Development of department/category specific merchandising promotions in collaboration with Category. Lead the ad development/creation process for Center Store promotions.

• Responsible for the development of seasonal and holiday planning, in collaboration with other department Merchandising Managers, across Fresh and Center Store.

• Responsible for providing suggestions that will evolve the merchandising strategy (snacking, healthy eating, gluten free, etc.).

• Interface for Sr. Banner leadership regarding Center Store Merchandising.

• Provide regular retail visits to monitor implementation of department programs, gather insights into customer's shopping experience and opportunities to improve this experience.

• Support retail in achieving financial metrics as it pertains to center store (Shrink, inventory targets).

• Monitor industry and regional competitor trends in product, equipment and systems and merchandising applications/programs.

Basic Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of education and related work experience.

• Minimum of 8 years combined experience in retail, merchandising, category, pricing, logistics, supply chain, procurement, and distribution

• 3+ years of retail operations leadership

• Extensive knowledge of Center Store Categories (Beer/Wine, Frozen/Dairy, Dry Grocery, Health & Beauty)

• Strong financial planning and budgeting experience

• Cross-functional leadership experience with a demonstrated ability to build cross-functional teams

• Demonstrated management expertise

• Demonstrated relationship management experience with vendors, brokers and third-party consultants

• Seasoned level of knowledge for company, business and industry practices

• Requires travel - typically 20%

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

• Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA)

• Experience with organizational change management

• 2+ years of multiple retail location responsibility

• Field Merchandising Experience is preferred

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to effectively build relationships and negotiate across multiple levels of the organization.

• Team builder - the ability to achieve success through others

• Ability to drive change

• Demonstrated ability to envision, coordinate, implement and analyze retail business using consumer insights and analyzing trends

• Ability to manage day to day activity in support of identified business area and functional area strategies

• Ability to influence organizational alignment across multiple business areas

• Ability to take an educated risk with implementing programs that support consumer demands.

• Ability to think innovatively

• Demonstrate a personal acceptance of change and the ability to adapt and drive change

• Demonstrated ability to implement and analyze retail business using consumer insights and analyzing trends.

• Active listener with an ability to build trust across varying levels of the organization

• High degree of credibility and the ability to work with and through all levels of management

• Excellent organizational, planning, influence, communication and presentation skills

• Self-motivated and persuasive in presenting and selling ideas and executing their implementation

The Salary Range for this position is $139,120 -$208,680

Hannaford provides equal opportunity in employment to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions), age, veteran status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.