Position Purpose
The Assistant Sales Manager partners with the Division Sales Manager to strategically manage assigned department categories to drive sales growth, total gross dollars, and market share year over year. This role is responsible for developing and executing pricing, promotion, assortment, and shelf schematics based on performance analysis, industry best practices, and consumer trends to meet or exceed projected business results.
Key Accountabilities
Category Strategy & Business Planning
- Create and execute annual category business plans based on detailed analysis of historical results, market trends, and consumer insights.
- Meet or exceed projected sales, gross profit, and contribution goals.
- Develop category‑level sales and gross profit projections, rolling up to department and division forecasts on a quarterly and annual basis.
- Measure and manage total category and department contribution.
Pricing, Promotion & Merchandising
- Develop and maintain zone‑specific pricing strategies by category throughout the year.
- Create and implement promotional calendars by major category aligned with divisional merchandising strategy.
- Track and evaluate promotional performance, including sales, profit, and market share.
- Design shelf schematics and recommend product adjacencies that support category roles and strategies.
- Plan ads and displays in support of category plans and total department initiatives.
- Coordinate promotional plans, advertising, displays, and merchandising messages as assigned by management.
Assortment & Supplier Management
- Determine optimal product assortments based on category strategies.
- Authorize new items and discontinue products based on performance and contribution potential.
- Act as the primary divisional contact for vendors within assigned categories.
- Manage vendor funding to maximize category profitability and efficiency.
- Meet regularly with vendors for deal negotiations, planning, and business updates.
- Attend key vendor planning meetings.
Analytics & Reporting
- Maintain weekly, quarterly, and annual scorecards tracking sales, gross profit dollars, and market share.
- Conduct in‑depth post‑promotion analysis at both item and category levels.
- Analyze internal and external factors influencing financial results.
Collaboration & Communication
- Coordinate and communicate among stores, merchandising teams, procurement, and other divisional partners.
- Work closely with procurement to communicate category and promotional plans, ensuring service levels and optimal inventory positioning.
- Partner with department peers, divisional teams, and corporate merchandising to facilitate program implementation.
- Visit stores as needed to observe merchandising execution and program results.
- Support and implement corporate initiatives.
Leadership & Supervision
- Provide direct supervision to applicable office support staff.
- Provide dotted‑line guidance to Buyers.
- Perform other duties as assigned by management.
Scope Data
- Sales performance
- Gross dollar contribution
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
Experience
- Previous store operations or comparable experience with a strong understanding of retail operations and merchandising strategies.
Skills & Abilities
- Strong financial, mathematical, statistical, marketing, and consumer research skills.
- Ability to read and interpret profit and loss statements and understand category impact.
- Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making capabilities.
- Excellent planning, organization, and time‑management skills.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Familiarity with Category Business Planning.
- Knowledge of procurement, logistics, and inventory management.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and internet‑based tools.
Travel Requirements
- Travel as required based on geographic coverage.
Physical Environment
- Most work is performed in a temperature‑controlled office environment.
- Ability to sit for extended periods at a desk or computer workstation.
