Description Whole Foods Market is seeking a dynamic category merchant to lead our Meat and Seafood Ready to Cook categories in Austin, TX. Are you a data-driven strategist with a passion for a fast paced and dynamic set of categories? Join our team and drive innovation, profitability, and customer satisfaction. In this crucial role, you'll develop category goals, strategies, and assortments tailored to our customers. You'll collaborate cross-functionally to execute category resets, manage supplier relationships, and deliver business results through data-rich, customer-centric product selection, pricing, presentation, and promotion. You'll get to contribute to a team that is leading the industry in advancing sustainability standards. Key job responsibilities Responsibilities: • Strategize & Innovate: Create data-driven customer centric category strategies that leverage customer insights, market trends, and competitive analysis. • Drive Success: Take ownership of the financial performance for your category. Develop and execute pre-season strategies that align with our business goals. • Curate Assortments: Collaborate with suppliers to bring the best products to our stores and online channels. Lead line reviews, assortment planning, and item forecasting. • Pricing & Promotion: Help shape pricing strategies that balance profitability with customer value. Work with marketing teams to support impactful promotional events. • Supplier Relationships: Build and maintain strong partnerships with suppliers. Negotiate for early access to new products, exclusive items, and competitive costs. • Item Management: Maintain accurate item level data in partnership with support teams that adhere to regulatory compliance. • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Merchandising Planning, Operations, Procurement, and other teams to ensure smooth execution of category goals. • Analyze & Adapt: Monitor category performance and adapt strategies based on data insights. Lead testing initiatives to continuously improve our offerings. • Brand Advocacy. Consistently represent and promote our brand values, products and mission, acting as a trusted representative internally and externally. • Mentorship: Share your knowledge and experience by coaching new team members. Be a resource for the wider team on category management best practices. Basic Qualifications - Bachelor's degree or above - Knowledge of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, and Excel - Knowledge of retail business, including all aspects of pricing, merchandising, retail operations, labor impacts, negotiation, and financial analysis and reporting including new product development and management. - Proficient in pulling financial reports, analyzing business trends, and assessing underlying drivers of results. - Strong cross-functional collaboration skills and the ability to influence outcomes in a complex, fast-paced environment. - A creative mindset with a knack for solving problems and managing ambiguity. Ability to multitask and thrive under pressure. - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences. Strong listening, empathy, and partnership skills to work cross-functionally and build trust. Preferred Qualifications - • Experience in value added perishables products. - • Experience working with internal and external product development teams. Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status. Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner. Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $126,300/year in our lowest geographic market up to $208,800/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/employee-benefits . This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.