Manager II Space Planning

Category/Area of Expertise: Merchandising Marketing Support
Job Requisition: 445311
Address: USA-ME-Scarborough-145 Pleasant Hill Rd
Store Code: Assortment Services (5165516)
Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands - Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Our associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more.
Primary Purpose
The Manager II, Space Planning serves as the primary Space Planning Subject Matter Expert (SME) for their assigned Brand, responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of micro-space (planograms) and macro-space (floor plans) strategies aligned with Brand direction regarding assortment optimization, ADUSA best practices for both Space Planning and Omnichannel Category reviews and collective vendor negotiation decisions. This role will lead a team across all aspects of Space Planning, consisting of a mix of ADUSA personnel and third-party contractors, overseeing their work and ensuring delivery of industry-leading macro and micro space plans for effective execution at the store level. The Manager II, Space Planning will provide both people and tactical leadership, technical expertise, and strategic direction to ensure the best results for the business, meeting the needs of consumers by providing the right products in the right places at the right time.
Our flexible/ hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Principle Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and provide direction to ADUSA team members and third-party contractors, ensuring alignment with ADUSA objectives and performance expectations.
• Foster a performance-driven culture that encourages forward-thinking, innovation, and continuous improvement across the team, through constant team growth and development activities.
• Oversee the creation and execution of micro-space (planograms) and macro-space (floor plans) strategies, collaborating with Brand Category Management, Retail Operations, Replenishment, Pricing, and the CAO Team to ensure alignment with prescribed strategic goals.
• Ensure that micro-space and macro-space strategies optimize store layout, improve product placement, and contribute to sales and category performance while ensuring optimal space allocation levels.
• Ensure effective communication of micro-space and macro-space strategies across ADUSA Assortment and Brand teams, third-party vendors, and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate within Assortment Support with the Managers of Retail Implementation and Equipment to measure, adjust, and streamline processes for faster response to business needs.
• Oversee the development and execution of category merchandising plans, balancing business priorities and resource requirements (e.g., new and discontinued items, category reviews).
• Manage the systems, rule sets, and standards for micro-space and macro-space strategies, ensuring consistency across all departments and stores.
• Ensure maintenance and compliance with all micro-space and macro-space Brand merchandising standards (aisle flow, brand-blocking, private brand presentation and shelf holding capacity guidelines at the store level to improve presentation, execution and sales
• Develop and provide regular performance reports and tracking metrics, ensuring deadlines are met and plans are executed according to schedule (e.g., cycle calendar, capital projects and strategic initiatives).
• Oversee the training and development of team members and contractors, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills to effectively utilize micro-space and macro-space tools (e.g., Blue Yonder Space Planning Suite tables, charts and Highlights, Database queries, IRI outputs, Project Activity Tracker, Merchandising Gateway and Assortment Optimization Tool outputs)
• Ensure that all team members contribute to the achievement of overall business objectives by setting clear expectations and providing regular feedback.
• Additional job duties may be assigned as needed to meet the needs of the business and support our Values.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• 7+ years of relevant progressive experience in a combination of space planning, category merchandising, vendor/broker or store operations roles.
• 5+ years of relevant experience leading diverse, high performing teams
• Basic knowledge of space planning concepts, processes and tools (e.g., Blue Yonder, Apollo, Spaceman, etc.)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills by adjusting communication content and style to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders
• Advanced leadership fundamentals and proven people-leadership abilities
• Focused on individual and team development activities
• Strong problem solving, decision making, and consensus-building ability
• Ability to evaluate ambiguity and drive towards positive outcomes.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams)
• Conflict resolution
• Ability to influence without authority
• Ability to sustain high levels of confidentiality

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant progressive experience in a complex, matrixed retail or CPG organization
• Knowledge of ADUSA Brand merchandising principles and processes
• Big-box retail (Store Operations, Category Management) experience

#LI-SM1 #LI-Hybrid
At Ahold Delhaize USA, we provide services to one of the largest portfolios of grocery companies in the nation, and we're actively seeking top talent. Our team shares a common motivation to drive change, take ownership and enable our brands to better care for their customers. We thrive on supporting great local grocery brands and their strategies.
We offer an experience where our associates are valued; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are infused in our business and our employees are representative of the communities that we serve. We believe in total wellness, which encompasses a blend of physical, financial and emotional wellness.
We believe in collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning in all that we think, create and do. While building a culture where personal and professional growth are just as important as business growth, we invest in our people, empowering them to learn, grow and deliver at all levels of the business.