Why this role exists

We have outgrown a “scrappy senior manager” approach to grocery. This role owns national strategy + national customers, brings a higher caliber of customer leadership, and upgrades the team’s ability to win with insights, planning, and influence, not just selling the product.

What success looks like (outcomes)

• Kroger and Albertsons are managed like true strategic accounts: strong HQ relationships, tight plans, tight execution.
• Grocery channel has a clear, repeatable operating rhythm: JBP, promo strategy, forecasting, scorecards, and accountabilities.
• RAMs get better: clearer priorities, higher standards, stronger coaching, stronger customer execution.
• Trade spend and promo activity is managed with discipline and ROI thinking.
• Forecast accuracy improves and in-stocks stay strong through tight partnership with Demand Planning.
• We enter new categories smoothly with grocery customers aligned and excited.

Core responsibilities

Own Kroger and Albertsons at HQ

• Full responsibility for sales, forecasting, promo planning, distribution, and senior buyer relationships.
• Lead JBP and customer planning with a tight story grounded in data and category truths.
• Use available data sources (ex: Nielsen, customer data like 84.51, panel data) to influence decisions.

Run the Grocery channel

• Own annual and quarterly plans, revenue and distribution goals, and performance tracking.
• Build a clear channel strategy and translate it into action for the team.
• Partner with Category Management and Shopper Marketing to create customer-ready programs and storytelling.

Lead and develop the team

• Directly manage 2 RAMs with different experience levels and support needs.
• Coach to higher standards: prep, customer influence, follow-up discipline, and crisp communication.
• Create accountability without bureaucracy.

Broker leadership

• Manage grocery broker relationships for alignment, priorities, and performance.
• Ensure brokers amplify the plan instead of creating noise.

Execution and operational excellence

• Trade spend management with clear guardrails and post-event learning.
• Tight collaboration with Demand Planning to protect service levels and avoid preventable issues.

Ideal background

Required

• Deep experience calling on either Kroger or Albertsons at HQ level
• Proven people leadership: developing and elevating account managers, not just “being a player-coach.”
• Strong grocery fundamentals: promo planning, forecasting discipline, joint business planning.
• Clear communicator who can win in a 30-minute buyer meeting.

Preferred

• A mix of classic CPG training plus growth brand execution
• Broker experience or strong broker management experience.
• Experience across other major grocers (Publix, Ahold, HEB, Meijer, etc).