Category Specialist - Cheese Operations

Overview: As a Category Specialist – Cheese Operations, you are responsible for executing merchandising strategies, product assortment, pricing, promotions, and inventory management to maximize sales and profitability. This role ensures that the cheese category reflects customer demand, maintains strong supplier relationships, and delivers a high-quality shopping experience. Additionally, you will provide continuous support and assistance to the IGA and Fresh St. Market Cheese departments, focusing on standards, merchandising, and overall operational guidance to enhance efficiency, profitability, and the customer experience. You will be required to assist in the Deli or other Fresh departments, as directed. Scope of Authority As a Category Specialist – Cheese Operations, you report directly to the Category Manager, Deli Operations. Key Responsibilities: Curating Cheese Department selection by keeping abreast of industry trends, identifying new items, and understanding customer preferences. Development of product assortment strategy to drive revenue using sales trends, customer demographics and competitor knowledge. Coaching and supporting Cheese teams in IGA and Fresh St. Market in day-to-day operations, achieving targets, and fostering an environment of continuous improvement, knowledge, service excellence, and enthusiasm within the cheese department. Implementing new programs and supporting employees through learning curves Implementing merchandising, promotional assortment, and pricing strategies and supporting the Cheese teams in our banner stores with execution Providing workforce support to stores as required (Deli & Cheese). Breadth of Responsibilities Department Operations Support Complete a full walk-through of each store’s Cheese department periodically, including a review of product displays, temperature checks, due dates, shrink reports, pricing, adequate program implementation, the efficiency of operations and processes, adherence to health and safety policies, and overall department appearance. Verify pricing during promotions and post-promotions; communicate the need for correct signage if required. Implement and monitor program directives; advise Department Manager/Leader and Store Manager/Leader of any compliance issues. Provide operational information to assigned Department Managers/Leaders as requested (new price files, forms, price tags, etc.) Support the setup of new Cheese departments by creating a product assortment plan and schematic, ordering equipment/tools, and providing operational support. Maintain awareness of all local, provincial, and federal law provisions related to labelling and packaging requirements to ensure compliance. Conduct continuous research and learning about department policies, procedures, and products and utilize the information for training and staff development. Perform department management duties to cover key store absences, as required. Assist with customer service, including product inquiries, pairing suggestions, and specialty orders. Training and Mentorship At the conclusion of each store visit, discuss walk-through findings and recommendations with the Department and Store Manager/Leader to improve department operations. Identify knowledge and/or skill gaps with department staff and work with Store Leaders to establish training and development plans to address opportunities. Regularly review department financial fundamentals with Cheese Leaders and provide ongoing support with tracking gross profit, understanding budgets, building sales and how decisions can negatively or positively impact the department’s gross profit. Introduce inventory practices to department leadership and provide ongoing support as needed to build positive habits and reinforce learnings. Ensure training is provided in advance of inventory and continue to support the trainee until you are confident that they are executing procedures correctly. Conduct check-ins after each per…

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