Associate Business Manager
Entrepreneurial | Expert | Exclusive | Empowering
We are entrepreneurial growth agents for our clients and our company. Backed by PLM's 35+ years of experience, we bring unparalleled Kroger expertise. We operate exclusively at Kroger, where our team excels in navigating its strategy, systems, and decision-making processes. We are an employee-owned company, fostering a culture and work environment that empowers and engages employees.
Three sixty Merchandising Solutions specializes in the strategic expansion of CPG client product portfoliosat Kroger, America's leading grocery retailer. We provide a wealth of merchandising expertise and vast brokerage capabilities in all facets of grocery retailing.
Relationship Management, Category Management, Insights & Analytics, Space Optimization, Promotional Planning, Administration
As an Associate Business Manager, you will be responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of small to mid-sized CPG clients, owning both business performance and day-to-day execution. This role operates with guidance and oversight from a Senior Business Manager (SBM) and/or Director and is designed to build the skills necessary to independently manage larger, more complex client businesses over time. The Associate Business Manager combines strategic thinking and hands-on execution, serving as the primary driver of results across the assigned desk.
Relationship management: Lead and strengthen client engagement.
- Serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact for assigned clients, aligning strategies and fostering collaboration with Kroger stakeholders with guidance from a SBM or Director as needed
- Ensure transparency, efficiency, and alignment across clients, Kroger, and internal teams
- Lead day-to-day client engagement, escalating complex, strategic, or high-risk topics appropriately
Insights & analytics: Leverage data to drive strategic decisions.
- Pull and manage data through 84.51 Stratum, OnDemand and related systems
- Create and distribute weekly & period scorecards and standard reports
- Analyze and monitor performance to identify opportunities or risks
- Translate data into clear, actionable recommendations, aligned to business objectives
- Ensure data accuracy, consistency and professional deliverable formatting
Promotional planning: Develop and execute strategies to drive growth.
- In partnership with SBM and/or Director develop, execute and support promotional plans aligned with client strategy and Kroger's guardrails, providing strategic, analytic, technical, and administrative support
- Communicate promotional strategies to stakeholders to ensure effective execution
- Monitor performance and recommend optimization opportunities based on results
KOMPASS and innovation: Drive assortment and new item success.
- Support clients through the KOMPASS process, recommending new product introductions and merchandising opportunities with Senior Business Manager or Director guidance
- Assist in aligning brand and product strategies with Kroger category objectives
- Coordinate execution of new item setup and launch readiness
Administration: Own timely & flawless administrative support
- Manage Kroger and internal systems and tools (ex. 1worldsync, Syndigo, DemandTec, MS Planner and Sharepoint, etc.)
- Own execution of processes, documentation and form submissions (examples include item setup, contracts, and promotional workflows).
- Support client payment reconciliation process
- Ensure accuracy, completeness, and timeliness across all administrative activities.
- Coordinate with support resources when applicable while retaining accountability for outcomes and execution quality.
Project Management:
- Manage and communicate progress and timelines on tasks & projects
- Prioritize workload and manage responsibilities within established guidelines
- Work effectively with cross-functional teams to accomplish shared goals
Industry voice of three sixty: Professionally represent and promote three sixty
- Serve as an ambassador, representing three sixty Merchandising Solutions to clients, Kroger stakeholders, and the overarching community
- Build credibility through consistent execution, insights, and professional communication
- Develop industry knowledge and presence over time, strengthening effectiveness and leadership capability
Minimum Position Qualifications:
- 4-year degree in Business, Marketing, Operations, Economics or equivalent education
- 4+ years of relevant industry experience
- Proficient Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
- Capacity to learn multiple computer systems and web-based applications
- Capability to collaborate with others and contribute effectively to a team
- Expert organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills
- Highly motivated self-starter who can work with minimal supervision
- Ability to effectively craft and deliver a message to senior level executives
- Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, prioritize and multi-task
- Adapt to advancing technology and Kroger systems
Minimum Physical Abilities:
- Must be able to perform essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable Accommodations
- Must be able to:
- remain standing/sitting for several hours at a time
- lift 10-15 lbs. occasionally
Desired Previous Job Experience:
- Administrative support position in office environment
- Data analysis and reporting experience
- Retail or grocery experience in a HQ environment
- DSD Experience is a plus
Competencies/Skills:
- Adaptability – Effectively adjusting to changes in tasks, processes, or work environments.
- Building Strategic Working Relationships – Building collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve goals.
- Building Trust – interacting with Kroger suppliers and employees in a way that gives Kroger management confidence in one's intentions and those of the organization.
- Communication – Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to Kroger and P.L. Marketing employees.
- Decision Making – Analyzing opportunities, issues or problems leveraging data to make informed, effective decisions aligned with objectives.
- Inclusion – Appreciating and leveraging the capabilities, insights, and ideas of all individuals; working effectively with individuals of diverse style, ability and motivation for a direct effect on business results
- Initiating Action – taking prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive; generating innovative solutions in work situations
- Self-Starter– able to work without direct supervision; prioritizing, organizing and completing workload accurately within allotted time period
- Work Standards – setting and maintaining high performance expectations and accountability for results.