Associate Category Manager- SWAT

Collaborates with Category Manager(s) across merchandise categories and business areas to select and purchase merchandise and services at the lowest possible cost while supporting overall business objectives. Provides flexible merchandising support by rotating between category desks and business units as required to meet changing business needs and priorities. Ensures purchasing decisions are supported by thorough analysis of business conditions, market trends, sources of supply, merchandise requirements, and Company policies. Responsible for developing and executing merchandising support, promotional programs, and distribution activities that address consumer and store needs across assigned categories. Quickly adapts to new product areas, business strategies, and category assignments while maintaining continuity of operations and delivering consistent results. With direction and input from Category Manager(s), develops and implements merchandising techniques, processes, and procedures that support category performance and organizational goals.

Plans, develops, and recommends sales, gross profit level, inventory control, and merchandise turnover objectives for the assigned department(s) and item(s). Develops and recommends merchandising, display, advertising, distribution, packaging and sales plans and programs for assigned items and merchandise departments. Negotiates buying contracts on categories or subsets of categories as determined by the Divisional Merchandise Manager (DMM) or Category Manager (CM). Reviews contracts with the CM. Analyzes market, competitive, and customer perception data, and provides recommendations to the DMM and CM regarding price levels. Reviews and analyzes historical and YTD category performance data. Recommends performance goals for categories, and manages category performance as assigned by the DMM and CM. Works closely with Store Experience and merchandise planning to build and review category insights. Utilizes data to make recommendations to Category Managers and DMMs on planograms, ROTO spots, promotional programs, merchandising assortment, forecasts, and other key category initiatives. Takes the initiative to elicit insights from data and recommend programs to division leadership. Develops an understanding of Walgreens and WBA private brands, including assortment and projected sales forecasts, gross profit level, and merchandising and promotional programs. Works with the Category Manager and/or DMM to project sales forecasts and gross profit levels within the assigned categories. About Walgreens Founded in 1901, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) has a storied heritage of caring for communities for generations and proudly serves nearly 9 million customers and patients each day across its approximately 8,500 stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and leading omni channel platforms. Walgreens has approximately 220,000 team members, including nearly 90,000 healthcare service providers, and is committed to being the first choice for retail pharmacy and health services, building trusted relationships that create healthier futures for customers, patients, team members and communities.

Bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years’ experience in two or more of the following: retail, procurement/purchasing, merchandising, vendor relations, pharmacy operations, or retail marketing OR a high school diploma/GED and at least 4 years of experience in two or more of the following: retail, procurement/purchasing, merchandising, vendor relations, pharmacy operations, or retail marketing. Experience working with P&L concepts – revenue, cogs, gross profit margin, operating expenses and income. Knowledge of customer centric retailing principles and the analytics of customer purchase behavior. At least 2 years of experience developing programs in merchandising, vendor relations, and marketing in the retail business. Intermediate level skill in Microsoft