Director of Sales (equivalent to a Director or Vice President of Category Management) oversees the strategic direction, growth, and profitability of specific product categories. This role is highly analytical and requires a blend of market insight, data analysis, and strong collaboration with other departments to optimize product assortment, cost of goods, promotions, and overall category performance. Read the entire announcement before starting the application process.

Duties

Strategic Category Planning: Develop and implement category management strategies that align with the company's business objectives, market trends, and consumer demand. Define goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) for each category, ensuring alignment with overall company goals. Work closely with cross-functional teams (merchandising, marketing, supply chain, finance) to achieve optimal category performance. Assortment and Product Selection: Oversee product assortment, focusing on SKU rationalization and product innovation to meet customer preferences and market trends. Ensure a balanced assortment by analyzing product performance, customer preferences, and competitive positioning. Collaborate with suppliers and vendors to bring in relevant products and negotiate favorable terms and conditions. Cost of Goods and Promotions: Develop cost of goods strategies that support profitability while staying competitive in the market. Work with marketing teams to create effective promotional plans, including seasonal events, discounting, and product bundling. Monitor price elasticity and customer response to adjust pricing and promotional strategies as needed. Sales and Margin Optimization: Analyze sales trends, gross margins, and profit contributions for each category, making data-driven decisions to optimize performance. Identify and implement initiatives to improve category profitability, such as adjusting the product mix, refining pricing models, or enhancing vendor collaboration. Implement category scorecards and regular performance reviews to ensure financial targets are met. Vendor and Supplier Relationships: * Negotiate terms and conditions with suppliers, including cost, delivery, payment terms, and exclusive offerings. Build and maintain strong vendor relationships to ensure product availability, quality, and compliance. Work with vendors on co-marketing and promotional opportunities to drive mutual business growth. Data Analysis and Insights: Conduct market and competitive analysis to identify trends, consumer behavior changes, and potential growth areas. Leverage data analytics to monitor category performance, customer insights, and potential risks. Use data to support decisions on assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies. Cross-Functional Leadership and Collaboration: Collaborate with merchandising, marketing, supply chain, and store operations to ensure cohesive execution of category strategies. Work with finance to develop accurate category financial projections, budgeting, and P&L management. Lead and develop category management team members, fostering a collaborative and goal-oriented environment. Customer Experience and Brand Alignment: Ensure category strategies align with the company's brand promise and enhance the customer shopping experience. Monitor customer satisfaction with categories and implement improvements based on feedback. Read the entire job announcement. Focus on the following sections to understand whether or not you qualify for the position. This critical information is found under: Duties and Qualifications How to Apply (including a preview of the assessment questionnaire, if applicable) How You Will be Evaluated Your resume must thoroughly describe how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the Qualifications section of this announcement and it must support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. We do not assume you have the necessary experience to successfully perform in this job regardless of your employment history or academic career.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen or national. Applicants with a Permanent Resident Card are authorized to live and work in the U.S. but are not eligible for employment in positions requiring U.S. citizenship. If selected, proof of citizenship is required.
• Meet the minimum age requirement. See Additional Information.
• Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
• Appointment is subject to successful verification of identity and employment eligibility through E-Verify. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Appointment is subject to a favorable suitability or fitness outcome, as determined by a completed background investigation. New federal employees will be fingerprinted.
• Be able to obtain and maintain clearance eligibility based on the appropriate background investigation.
• May be subject to a probationary/trial period.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• Meet the physical requirements identified in the Qualifications section.
• May be subject to a supervisory probationary period.

Qualifications

You must meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) qualifications for series 1101 and additional requirements by the announcement closing date. Your resume must clearly show that you have one (1) year of experience overseeing sales and category management within a retail chain; working multiple category management initiatives; as well as developing and integrating category management programs equivalent to at least GS-14. Experience can be under other Federal service pay systems, private sector, or military. Category Sales ManagementMinimum Qualifications GS-15Oral and Written CommunicationStrategic Planning Relocation Incentives Offered: No Recruitment Incentives Offered: No Retention Incentives Offered: No Overtime: Occasional Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt Bargaining Unit Status: Not Covered Obligated Position: Yes. This position is obligated to a DoD employee that has mandatory return rights after service in an overseas or non-foreign area. If the employee elects to exercise return rights, you may be removed from this position or placed into another position. Those retired under CSRS or FERS considered: No. DoD criteria not met. Telework eligible:Yes Remote work eligible: No

Education

You may not use education to qualify for this position.

Foreign education may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses.

Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable.

When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluation results letter with a course-by-course listing. Documents must be in English or include an English translation. The hiring employer for this position does not evaluate degrees from foreign colleges or universities.

Contacts

• Address DECA HQ 1300 Eisenhower Street Fort Gregg-Adams, VA 23801 US
• Name: DeCA HQ Servicing team
• Phone: 614-692-2331
• Email: [email protected]