KeHE Distributors, LLC Looking for Manager, Merchandising Excellence at Naperville, Illinois Full Time

Good people, working with good people, for our common good.

Sound good?

KeHE-a natural, organic, specialty and fresh food distributor-is all about “good” and is growing, so there’s never been a more exciting time to join our team. If you’re enthusiastic about working in an environment with a people-first culture and an organization committed to good living, good food and good service, we’d love to talk to you!

Primary Responsibilities:

Operating under the Merchandising team umbrella, the Manager – Merchandising Excellence is primarily responsible for providing project management support for new distribution center openings, new customer on-boardings, expanding existing customer assortment initiatives, and support of new business development projects. This position operates on a regional basis and looks to drive a number of ‘outcome-oriented’ initiatives that will further enhance opportunities to improve the operational and merchandising efficiencies within our distribution centers and build sales volumes broadly across our Independent sales channel.

This position serves in a project manager capacity; highly cross-functional and intersects with various stakeholders internally (Sales, Business Development, Supply Chain, Operations, and Merchandising). It is designed to provide a well-rounded development opportunity that prepares the candidate for a next-level leadership role at KeHE.

Essential Functions:
Analyze customer initiatives, primarily APL product and supplier match – no match reviews, analyze DC capacity constraints, and summarize their findings for review. Communicate summarized findings to senior leadership.
Gather data, assemble workbooks in support of customer initiatives, and DC assortment initiatives. Utilize data to identify and activate new items, new suppliers, implement restrictions & prohibits, etc. required for the successful completion of the project. Identify limited performance items that may be needed to be discontinued from the distribution center to make room for new item assortments.
Lead outcome-oriented initiatives that will move the business forward and create value to KeHE. Initiative’s impact can include creating new business processes, defining new business metrics, developing new reporting and insights, implementing automation, and influencing corporate culture in support of the initiatives. Overall strategic execution and implementation of the project plan is the primary goal.
Manage each project’s plan of milestones and tasks. Implement strategic and tactical oversight of the project to move the business forward and create impact for the company. Ensure the plan is being actively worked and that tasks and milestones are being completed in a timely manner. Network with various stakeholders across the organization to ensure the overall success of the initiative. Coordinate strategic or tactical meetings to ensure all key stakeholders are aligned and manage project expectations.
Communicate effectively with the supplier community. Update suppliers on new DC openings and DC-customer initiative timing. Ensure suppliers understand product authorization impacts based on the overall project’s APL (authorized product listing).
Recognize, align, and properly engage resources at all organizational levels to accelerate change management.
Minimum Requirements, Qualifications, Additional Skills, Aptitude:
College degree in related field.
Minimum of 2-3 years KeHE experience, familiar with KeHE tools and systems.
Advanced Microsoft Excel & Power Point.
Project Management knowledge and certifications (preferred).
Strong verbal, written, and organizational communication skills are required.
Excellent interpersonal abilities: ability to get along with diverse personalities; tactful, mature, and flexible.
High energy level, comfortable performing multifaceted projects in conjunction with day-to-day activities.
Have a high degree of self-motivation and dependability.
Strategic thinker with effective diplomatic and proactive leadership skills.
Ability to analyze data and translate into insights.
Highly credible, collaborative, and resourceful style with the ability to work independently and as a team player.
Ability for travel to team leadership meetings and off-site collaboration sessions.
Strong ability to build presentations and communicate content clearly and thoroughly to a large audience of stakeholders.

Requisition ID: (phone number removed) Equal Employer Opportunity Statement: KeHE Distributors provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion or faith, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training as well as the administration of all Human Resources and Talent Acquisition processes.