Job Description

Job Description

Company Overview Founded in 1939 and based in Boise, Idaho, Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States. The company operates over 2,200 stores in 35 states and the District of Columbia.
Company Facts Albertsons Companies is headquartered in Boise, ID with corporate locations in Phoenix, AZ and Pleasanton, CA.
The company has $59 billion in in annual sales and serves over 34 million customers per week.
Albertsons Companies operate more than 2,200 stores, 1,775 in-store pharmacies and 395 fuel stations across 35 states.
As one of the largest retail employers in the U.S., the company provides approximately 275,000 job opportunities.
The company has introduced home delivery in over 25 of the major metropolitan markets through their own distribution and a partnership with Instacart.
Position Title Culinary Leader
Position Location Remote

Position Overview Albertsons seeks to offer customers an easy, exciting and friendly shopping experience, through disrupting deli and food service as we know it today and capturing greater share of stomach by becoming a trusted leader in meals focused on 3 key categories: Ready to Heat, Ready to Cook and Ready to Eat.

In many grocers, meals is often represented as an offshoot of the deli and food service teams. In this role, reporting to the SVP, Meals Business, the Leader, Culinary will help establish a instore destination for meals (the ReadyMeals program) by leading a team of corporate chefs and dieticians to build a scalable program, brand, and most importantly a menu that will resonate with all customers across all of our store banners. The leader will coordinate with marketing, real estate, IT, sourcing and procurement, our Own Brands team, the deli & foodservice teams and our division leaders. It's a unique strategic role within the company because 'meals' is not a singular category. While this leader will indeed lead innovation around Ready to Heat, Ready to Cook and Ready to Eat from a culinary perspective, understanding food trends and building seasonal menus that drive incremental sales and reduce shrink, the leader will also expand the common definition of a grocery meal to include other categories to really create a full dining experience across all occasions. In addition to defining the vision for our food, both healthy and indulgent, this leader will work with leaders across the company to develop and execute an exciting assortment of meal options, with diverse flavor profiles that are on trend to capture additional occasions better than today's takeout, delivery and restaurant experiences. This person will have a highly visible leadership role in the organization and will be a critical partner to all of our stores in building and growing a successful meal solutions business.

The grocery industry is underdeveloped in meal solutions and now more than ever our customers are looking for easy solutions, ideas and products to satisfy multiple eating occasions for themselves and their families, and this person will contribute to influencing the future of meal solutions and establish Albertsons as an industry leader.

There are very few places where you can have this much customer and business impact and help shape the future. If you're up to the challenge, we'd love to talk to you!
Core Responsibilities * Lead culinary and dietician teams to build menus that are relevant to customers across the country
* Establish a healthy meals program by creating specific menus that appeal to health conscious customers as well as those customer with pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., diabetes)
* Work with 3rd party vendors and suppliers to commercialize recipes and products for production and delivery to our stores
* Partner with Own Brands (our private label brand team) and retail Division leadership to establish ReadyMeals goals, percolating to individual store levels to drive targeted outcomes
* Drive, develop, and oversee implementation of the ReadyMeals solutions business plan for the company at the Division level to achieve P&L and EBITDA goals
* Leverage data to optimize menus, reduce waste (shrink) and drive incremental revenue
* Drive a culture of operational excellence, cost consciousness, high productivity and exceptional customer service
* Establish and evolve a ReadyMeals playbook for product development and commercialization.
* Ensure processes and policies to drive compliance for food safety standards and local regulations; ensure they are engrained into the operational procedures
* Monitor financial results, continuously assess factors impacting performance, review opportunities and take appropriate actions to improve KPIs
* Actively collaborate with cross-functional teams in marketing, real estate, IT, sourcing and procurement, our Own Brands team, the deli & foodservice teams and our banners
* Monitor and analyze competitive landscape and trends both nationally and locally and communicate opportunities to the meal solutions team, to keep the business competitive in a dynamic environment
* Ensure operational scalability; all sites are equipped to digest large new product development launch programs with a combination of local and central resources to assist and ensure success
* Ensure the operational controls are in place to identify and manage risks, while also utilizing techniques to enhance decision making confidence in pursuing growth opportunities
* Ensure appropriate resources are developed and allocated to assist division associates with the supervision of the ReadyMeals program in the store
Personal Characteristics * An operator -- you understand how to scale processes in matrixed organization that drives results
* A strategist -- you think big and are able to create new business plans to drive growth
* A negotiator -- you can see possibilities and not problems to maximize opportunities
* A networker -- you can develop and build extensive relationships
* A collaborator -- you can work across levels and functions to get results
* A problem-solver -- you find ways to get things done
* A diplomat -- you work well with people with different backgrounds.
* A relentless learner and observer -- you know the trends in food.... cooking, restaurants, cuisines, etc. You understand the consumer and the industry never stops changing
* A restless curiosity - you are always looking for a better way, seeking to understand where the consumer is headed
* A conviction -- you have a passion for developing and increasing the value of this growing category
Experience & Expertise * 10+ years of culinary leadership experience
* Proven success in scaling processes, systems, products and people to meet company growth objectives
* Solid business and financial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, analysis
* Experience in creating a unique customer value proposition; attracting, engaging, and retaining customers through easy and exciting meal solutions and in store experience
* Demonstrated capability in evaluating process and improving operational efficiencies
* Has led large scale programs in matrixed organizations
* Successful in negotiating and/or influencing across all levels of the organization in order to gain cooperation and successfully implement projects
* Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills
* An undergraduate degree required
* Culinary degree or Master's degree a plus
Leadership Capabilities * Aptitude for strategic thinking and problem solving in a fluid environment
* Strong passion around creating new experiences that surprise and delight customers -- customer obsession
* Exceptional at prioritizing and focusing on the highest value opportunities
* Sense of urgency with a strong and proven ability to partner with Division operating teams and to work through influence to build the commitment and consensus necessary to drive performance and develop strategic and tactical plans
* Executive presence and mindset, with the ability to roll up sleeves when necessary
* Excellent communication skills, able to present, negotiate and influence at Division leadership level and resolve complex issues
* Exceptional networking, relationship building and influencing skills
* Possesses a collaborative and approachable style
* A positive cultural leader, champion and motivator
* Has the presence and ability to energize and motivate the organization while delegating accountability
* Able to lead in a growing and complex business
* Able to manage competing priorities, work under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced business environment
* Capable of challenging senior management as well as colleagues in the business in a constructive, balanced way, offering solutions and fresh thinking
Culture Fit and Impact Compassion: We always treat each other and our customers with kindness and respect
Team: We always support and recognize each other
Ownership: We always take actions to drive our success
Competitive: We always act with integrity to win over the customer
Inclusive: We always value everyone's perspective
Learning: We always strive to grow and develop ourselves and others