Introduction

• To develop, operationalize & successfully integrate the category selling solutions, initiatives and merchandising strategies for an enhanced customer shopping experience in order to optimize sales and profit growth.

Job description

• Provide operational input into category strategy based on review of previous years’ operating plan
• Review and influence selling formats to optimize in store displays that is strategy reflective
• Co-create, co-ordinate and update input for annual format and blue print review i.t.o macro space allocation, flows and adjacencies in line with category strategic shifts.
• Co-ordinate and co-create the category annual Capex requirements
• Formulate design and implementation briefs for sign-off
• Manage trials and conduct rollouts and PIR’s
• Manage Seasonal execution in line with the ILF by:
• Translating the seasonal strategy into a fully integrated FOF per trading phase
• Manage the Seasonal model store process & workshops
• Create and deliver a Demo & tastings plan to enhance customer experience
• Co-create and develop Communication tools – implementation briefs, seasonal trading note, KTS, MSW communication
• Co-create and develop execution principles with annual review & update

Drive seasonal trade through:

• Delivery of trend analysis and data interpretation to influence tactical plans across the category and stores
• Managing the delivery of sell more unit campaigns 
• Ensure the successful Selling execution of New & modernised stores
• Conduct regular store visits to identify opportunities for execution improvement and sales opportunities to drive L4L performance.
• Ensure the effective communication and in store implementation of agreed macro and micro space and merchandising principles in line with category strategies.
• Continuously improve category merchandising and proactively seek opportunities to drive category and business growth.
• Deliver to category launches in line with the Integrated Launch Calendar.
• Ensure the delivery of agreed macro and micro space and merchandising principles in line with category strategies.
• Ensure that micro space layouts (shop within shop) accurately reflect the customer decision tree and category strategy.
• Continuously improve category merchandising and proactively seek opportunities to drive category and business growth.
• Deliver to category launches in line with the Integrated Launch Calendar.
• Identify and influence range and catalogue opportunities and ensure micro space optimisation.
• Participate in setting selling and category team objectives, goals and agreed ways of working.
• Coach & develop store candidates and divisional launch teams to enable succession pipeline
• Drive integration and partnership with key stakeholders to enable strategy execution and effective launch of initiatives.

Minimum requirements

• Relevant business degree or diploma  (preferred)
• 3-5 years relevant retail experience (or combination for store/buying/planning)
• Demonstrates passion for and commitment to excellence, the customer, the Woolies brand and organisation, each other, South Africa, transformation and sustainability
• Role models the Woolies values: Quality and Style, Value, Service, Innovation, Integrity, Energy
• Demonstrates a commitment to high performance – is delivery focused and goal driven, flexible and thrives on and responds to performance feedback
• Understands themselves and the impact they have on the people they interact with and the organisational culture
• Adjusts their behaviour accordingly
• Plays a leading role in driving sustainable transformational initiatives at an operational level
• Is recognised by their leadership team, peers and reports as competent
• Builds strong networks and strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Engages and connects people to enable delivery of BU operating plan.
• Consistent in their decision making and owns the consequences thereof due to strong business understanding and commercial knowledge.
• Demonstrates attention to detail and reacts to commercial and customer issues within their operation.
• Manages people to execute BU operating plan.
• Manages delivery in a positive and consistent way
• Plan and Organise
• Think and act commercially (Trade Optimisation)
• “Conceptualise” or “generate ideas”
• Formulate selling solution and implement shorter-term tactical plans that are cost-effective, efficient and realistic
• Able to analyse and interpret data
• Communicate and influence at various (using networks and relationships)
• Project management skills
• Retail Space and Display Management
• Able to provide input into Range and Catalogue Management
• Able to provide input into Supply Chain Management
• Able to provide input into Value chain optimization
• Knowledge of Foods and the buying groups
• Good communication and business writing skills
• Good understanding of the Foods retail business and Brand DNA