Assistant Category Manager

Company: Sears Holdings Management Corporation

Job Title: Assistant Category Manager - Food & Consumables

Location: Illinois Hoffman Estates, 60179 Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's third largest broadline retailer, with approximately $55 billion in annual revenues, and with approximately 3,800 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Formed in March 2005 from the merger of Sears and Kmart, Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has Martha Stewart Everyday products, which are offered exclusively in the U.S. by Kmart and in Canada by Sears Canada. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 14 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at http://www.searsholdings.com. Sears Holdings Corporation is committed to improving the lives of our customers by providing quality services, products and solutions that earn their trust and build lifetime relationships. We are proud of our diverse, high-performance team work environment and we strive for continuous improvement through keen focus on growth, effectiveness and a sense of urgency. Individuals who are driven to earn our customers' trust and business every day, who act with integrity, who treat everyone fairly and value diversity, and who are accountable for their actions are welcome to show interest in becoming a member of our winning team.

Description:
Plans and manages the merchandising programs for a small category of merchandise or merchandise within an assigned category to achieve sales, gross margin, inventory, and turnover goals. 1. In conjunction with Buyer/Category Manager and Merchandise Planner, determines long- and short-term goals and establishes a business strategy for achieving goals related to assigned merchandise. Manages business to meet sales and gross margin plans while meeting turnover objectives. 2. In conjunction with Buyer/Category Manager and Merchandise Planner, develops and adjusts seasonal financial plans and merchandising assortments that are consistent with financial plans, merchandising trends, and customer feedback. 3. Develops collaborative vendor relationships and negotiates terms that fit within financial parameters. Maintains productive relationships with vendors to ensure optimal pricing and long-term continuity of supply and service for assigned merchandise. 4. Works in conjunction with Product Development and Quality Assurance to develop private label programs and create items with appropriate quality levels. 5. Works in conjunction with Merchandise Planner and Merchandiser to ensure merchandise reaches stores with maximum efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and customer satisfaction. 6. Works in conjuction with Space Management and Visual Merchandising to ensure planograms and adjacencies support departmental plans and store capabilities. 7. Works with Buyer/Category Manager to prepare advertising plans and executes plans to ensure timely delivery of adequate quantity of advertised merchandise. Analyzes advertising results to assist in future planning. 8. Maintains ongoing flow of communication with merchandising-related departments, stores, and customers to deliver and obtain information pertinent to merchandise within area of responsibility, according to established schedules. 9. Visits competition to research product, pricing, and merchandise presentation strategies. Maintains a high level of product awareness to keep current on new products, lines, categories, new technologies, and new concepts in retailing.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Bachelor's degree in business administration or equivalent. 2. Minimum of two years support experience in merchandising or merchandise planning or equivalent. 3. Good knowledge and understanding of the total buying process including analysis, buying, trends, taste levels, and response to the business. 4. Strong negotiation skills to aggressively close deals that positively affect bottom-line results. 5. Strong listening, interpersonal and communication skills for sending and receiving clear upward, downward, and horizontal messages. 6. Ability to analyze financial and business information as a tool for improving business results. 7. Ability to work well with others as a team player. 8. Ability to develop and implement fresh ideas to improve business results.

Benefits:
As a Sears professional, your career path options will be determined by your performance as well as your desire to advance further within Sears organization. And you'll get some of the best benefits in the industry: -Medical, Dental and Legal Plans -Associate Stock Purchase Plan -Flexible Spending Accounts -Associate Discounts -Group Universal Life Insurance -Long-Term Disability Insurance -Long-Term Care Insurance -Business Travel Accident Insurance -Short-Term Disability -Vacation/Personal and National Holidays -WorkLife Solutions Please Note: Different eligibility rules apply to certain benefits. Some businesses do not offer all benefits shown.

Apply Online at: http://appclix.postmasterlx.com/track.html?pid=402881bd13f6d0250113f8ef8b9c05e0&source=buyj&p=codes=OTHW