The Market Lead serves as the local category expert, driving market-specific strategies and execution in alignment with the division’s strategic plan. This role bridges merchandising and operations by providing localized insights to inform assortment, pricing, and promotional decisions, while supporting hyperlocal initiatives and competitive response efforts. With a strong field presence and deep market knowledge, the Market Lead partners closely with the Micro-Market Sales Manager, their department Sales Manager, and operations teams to ensure cohesive execution and market responsiveness. The role is critical in connecting field teams with strategic planning through active engagement, communication, and collaboration on local schematic and pricing changes. In partnership with the Sales Managers and Assistant Sales Managers, the Market Lead ensures that local insights and competitive intelligence are effectively integrated into broader divisional strategies, enhancing alignment across store remodels, clustering plans, blunting plans, ad planning, reset walks, seasonal planning, community events, schematic changes, local assortment, and sales message. 

 

Informed by structured competitor assessments, the Market Lead helps shape blunting strategies and provides timely input into sales messaging and promotional planning. This role also carries shared accountability for market share and department-level performance metrics, and requires fluency in tools used for pricing, assortment, and competitive tracking. As a visible leader in the field, the Market Lead supports leadership store visits and cultivates strong vendor relationships to drive execution and local relevance. 

 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES: 

 

Local & Department Subject Matter Expertise 

Serves as the local expert for assigned categories, identifying geography-specific needs and trends to inform merchandising decisions.  Conducts weekly competitor market assessments that include analyzing product offerings, pricing, and promotional strategies; provides local insights for competitor blunting plans.  Maintains a strong presence in the field collaborating with DMs, Ops, Sales Managers (approx. 70% travel), engaging directly with stores and teams to gather local insights and ensure execution. 

Merchandising Thought Partner 

Partners with Division Sales Managers and Assistant Sales Managers to align and execute the division’s strategic plan within the market, ensuring local relevance and impact.  Leads and supports hyperlocal strategies (e.g., cultural or demographic-specific initiatives), working closely with the Micro-Market Sales Manager and local teams.  Delivers actionable pricing insights to Sales Mangers and Assistant Sales Managers to inform market pricing and promotional decisions.   Provides input and partners with Sales Managers on local schematic changes during the case flow process and supports the micro-market sales manager with localized assortment and assists with implementation.  Provides local insights and recommendations for seasonal planning to ensure alignment with customer preferences and market trends.  Collaborates with Merchandising & Marketing team to develop and implement clustering plans that align with local market needs.  Provides input to Sales Managers and Assistant Sales Managers on local nuances during pre-meetings for weekly ad planning and actively participates in quarterly promotional planning sessions.  Supports Sales Managers and Assistant Sales Managers by ensuring local insights are reflected in division-level ad strategies and provides input into new item assortment discussions for fresh items.   Supports tops-to-tops and vendor relations for the largest vendors, attending key meetings as appropriate to strengthen partnerships and drive business objectives.  Provides guidance to Sales Managers and Assistant Sales Managers for local sales event planning by providing insights and recommendations that align with market dynamics and customer engagement strategies.  Participates in new item assortment discussions for fresh market leads. 

Operational Execution Support 

Attends reset walks as needed each period and provide feedback on schematic execution and wave resets.  Provides local insight for capital deployment projects and contributes to prioritization of merchandising capital investments.  Cultivates and maintains strong relationships with DSD vendors to enhance product availability and support local initiatives.  Serves as the field expert for the category and supports the Operations team through strategic oversight and alignment with departmental metrics. 

 

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: 

 

Education Level: 

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Marketing, Merchandising, Retail Management, or equivalent work experience  Advanced coursework or certifications in Category Management, Retail Strategy, or Data Analytics 

 

Experience Level: 

7+ years of experience in merchandising, category management, or retail operations.  Demonstrated success in applying local market insights to influence assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies.  Experience working cross-functionally with sales, operations, and marketing teams. 

 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES: 

Strong understanding of category management, including assortment planning, pricing, and promotional strategy.  Ability to apply local market insights to influence merchandising decisions and drive sales performance.  Experience with schematic planning and making localized adjustments based on store and customer needs.  Deep knowledge of local market dynamics, customer preferences, and competitor strategies.  Skilled in conducting comp-sensitive price checks and leading competitive response (blunting) plans.  Proven ability to work across merchandising, sales, and operations teams to align on strategy and execution.  Experience supporting Micro-Market Sales Managers and partnering with field teams to implement local initiatives.  Ability to translate division-level strategies into actionable, market-specific plans.  Experience leading hyperlocal initiatives tailored to cultural or demographic needs (e.g., regional product strategies).  Strong communication skills to effectively share market insights and influence decision-making across teams.  Comfortable participating in planning meetings and acting as a liaison between field and corporate teams.  Willingness and ability to maintain a high level of field presence (approx. 70% travel).  Agile and responsive to changing market conditions, with a hands-on approach to problem-solving.  Proficiency in tools used for pricing analysis, assortment planning, and competitive tracking.  Ability to interpret data and trends to support strategic recommendations. 

 

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Up to 70% travel as directed 

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Work may be performed in a temperature-controlled environment.  Must sit, stand, or walk for extended periods of time.  May spend long periods of time at desk or computer terminal.  May use calculators, keyboards, telephone, and other office equipment in the course of normal workday.  Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in completion of job duties.  Workday is fast paced; some evening and weekend work may be required. 

 

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by associates assigned to this job classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. 

 We foster an inclusive working environment where the different strengths and perspectives of each employee is both recognized and valued. We provide employment, training, compensation, promotion and other conditions of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, medical condition, marital status or any other legally protected status.  

 

We also provide a variety of benefits including:

Competitive wages paid weekly Associate discounts Health and financial well-being benefits for eligible associates (Medical, Dental, 401k and more!) Time off (vacation, holidays, sick pay).  For eligibility requirements please visit myACI Benefits Leaders invested in your training, career growth and development

An inclusive work environment with talented colleagues who reflect the communities we serve

 

A copy of the full job description can be made available to you.

Our Values – Click below to view video:   ACI Values

As a Market Lead, you’ll enjoy a competitive salary range of $92,000 to $120,000, alongside comprehensive health and welfare benefits, retirement saving options, paid time off, and a quarterly performance bonus, based off of experience and other relevant factors. Starting rates will be no less than the local minimum wage and may vary based on things like location, experience, qualifications and the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement. Dependent on length of service, hours worked and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, benefits include healthcare, sick pay, PTO/Vacation pay and retirement benefits (pension and/or 401(k) eligibility). 

If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and make a real impact in our store, we’d love to hear from you! Join us and be part of a team dedicated to excellence in customer service and operational success.

 A copy of the full job description can be made available to you.