Build strong relationships with internal business stakeholders to jointly develop category strategies, proactively identifying opportunities and projects to deliver best value to Kroger and achieve savings targets. Partner with director to set vision, performance metrics, and strategy of categories and communicate to all stakeholders while ensuring team achieves the savings targets. Demonstrate the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety.
Responsibilities- Category Management:
- Build strong business relationships allowing sourcing to increase its influence over total category spend
- Provide category and market expertise to create a strategic portfolio of initiatives to achieve savings targets
- Support definition of category strategies and manage different stakeholders through execution of project lifecycle to address obstacles
- Develop an effective framework to govern strategy, project pipeline and measure performance
- Strategic Sourcing:
- Drive continuous improvement to create efficiencies and enhance level of skills and capabilities of the team
- Provide guidance to introduce new procurement processes and technologies to become more effective and compliant to internal policies
- Contract Management:
- Provide expertise to support all activities related to contract lifecycle management (CLM)
- Support escalation process as needed to resolve any compliance issues
- Supplier Relationship Management:
- Manage supplier relationships at a national level and work with business to make sure all SRM activities are executed effectively
- Lead supplier finance and discounting programs with a focus on improving work capital, cash flow, interest payable, and gross margins
- Procurement Process:
- Maintain knowledge of other initiatives in the company that may affect category performance
- Champion compliance to all sourcing policies with internal business stakeholders and internal teams
- Talent Management:
- Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties: complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports
- Collaborate with HR on the planning, attraction, selection, retention, and development of the team to ensure availability of the required talent
- Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
QualificationsMinimum
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Retail, CPG, or related disciplines
- 10 years’ experience within the pertinent category
- Deep procurement experience with proven ability to establish category management strategies, sourcing capabilities including business processes improvement and use of e-sourcing tools
- Highly collaborative individual, who has proven ability to work cross functionally and build strategic/mutually beneficial relationships at all levels
- Ability to change the thinking of others in sensitive situations, without damage to the relationship, both internally and externally
- Advanced Microsoft Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Vizio)
Desired
- MBA or Master’s degree
- 7 Years of leadership/management experience in Supply Chain or Procurement
- CPM/CPSM, CSCP or equivalent certification
What you’ll receive from us:
The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:
- A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
- Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
- Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching with Goldman Sachs Ayco.
- Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
- Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
- Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Retail, CPG, or a related discipline
- 10 years of experience within the pertinent category
- Deep procurement experience, including category management strategies, sourcing capabilities, business process improvement, and e-sourcing tools
- Ability to work collaboratively and build strategic relationships across functions and organizational levels
- Ability to influence others in sensitive situations while maintaining internal and external relationships
- Advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Visio
- MBA or master's degree
- Seven years of leadership or management experience in Supply Chain or Procurement
- CPM, CPSM, CSCP, or equivalent certification
Kroger Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Kroger and has not been reviewed or approved by Kroger.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage in many union divisions has been protected or improved in recent contracts, with some regions avoiding proposed cuts and others expanding spousal coverage and strengthening short‑term disability. Mental‑health resources and 24/7 access are also emphasized, supported by third‑party recognition in recent years.
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Retirement Support — Retirement options include a company 401(k) with a match and, in many union roles, access to pension or variable annuity plans that have been stabilized through recent agreements. Match levels and pension participation vary by division and role, so specifics require local confirmation.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Education assistance through “Feed Your Future” offers substantial tuition support for both part‑ and full‑time associates, alongside free financial coaching. Perks such as associate discounts and periodic Boost membership offers add incremental value to total rewards.
Kroger Insights
What We Do
At Kroger, we believe no matter who you are or how you like to shop, everyone deserves affordable, easy-to-enjoy, fresh food. This idea is embodied in our simple tagline—Fresh for Everyone™. Kroger ranks as one of the world’s largest retailers. We are nearly half a million associates across 2,800 stores in 35 states operating two dozen grocery retail brands and 34 manufacturing and 44 distribution locations, all dedicated to living our Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™. Together, we serve more than 11 million customers daily in our stores and online through convenient e-commerce options like pickup, ship and delivery, serving America through food inspiration and uplift. Customers love Our Brands, including the popular Kroger®, Private Selection® and Simple Truth® brands. Our own manufacturing plants produce many of Our Brands products, including breads, dairy products, meat and thousands of grocery items. We also believe in and are committed to doing our part to create #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025.
