Sr Director Product Management - Merchandising
Albertsons** Prior to applying it is required that you inform your manager of your desire to apply for a new position. **
About the company
Albertsons Companies is at the forefront of the revolution in retail. With a fixation on raising the bar with innovation and building belonging through our culture, our team is rallying our company around a unique purpose: to create joy around each table and inspire a healthier tomorrow for every community.
Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with over 2,200 stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Our well-known banners include Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carr’s, Kings Food Markets, and Balducci's Food Lovers Market. We support our stores with 22 distribution centers and 19 manufacturing plants.
Why Join Us?
This is more than a leadership role— this is an opportunity to ensure merchandising excellence through best-in-class item set up, assortment management, and space planning practices, driving both operational efficiency and sales growth.
Bring your flavor
Building the future of food and well-being starts with you. Join our team and bring your best self to the table.
#bringyourflavor
#LI-MG1
What you will be doing
The Senior Director of Product Management for Merchandising leads the vision, strategy, and execution for item set up, assortment management, and space planning. This role ensures seamless item onboarding and maintenance, optimal assortment strategies, and data-driven space planning to maximize sales, operational efficiency, and customer experience.
The role is ideal for a strategic leader passionate about driving customer loyalty and delivering impactful results in a dynamic retail environment. The position will be based in Pleasanton, CA.
Main Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
- As the single-threaded leader for item setup and space planning, you will:
- Develop and communicate a unified product vision and roadmap for item set up, assortment, and space planning, aligning with business and merchandising objectives.
- Oversee end-to-end item lifecycle management, ensuring data accuracy, compliance, and efficient onboarding.
- Lead and mentor a high-performing team of product managers and cross-functional partners across item management, assortment, and space planning domains.
- Drive assortment planning strategies, including SKU optimization, segmentation, and profitable assortment execution to support brand and financial goals.
- Implement and optimize space planning strategies, leveraging macro and micro space planning techniques to enhance store layouts, product placement, and customer flow.
- Collaborate with engineering, merchandising, planning, supply chain, and analytics teams to define requirements, prioritize features, and deliver impactful solutions.
- Establish and track KPIs for item set up efficiency, assortment productivity, and space utilization, driving continuous improvement.
- Analyze market trends, customer insights, and sales data to identify opportunities for automation, process optimization, and innovation in assortment and space planning.
- Champion best practices in product data governance, space optimization, and assortment planning to support scalable growth.
- Provide thought leadership to Senior Leadership and C-Suite, as well as work autonomously, making bold, strategic decisions while ensuring cross-functional alignment across multiple teams led by VP-level and senior stakeholders.
The salary range is $218,900.00 to $297,300.00 annually. Starting salary will vary based on criteria such as location, experience, and qualifications. There may be flexibility for exceptional candidates. Benefits may include medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, sick pay (accrued based on hours worked), PTO/Vacation Pay (accrued based on hours worked) or Flexible Time Off, paid holidays (8-9 days annually), bereavement pay, and retirement benefits (such as 401(k) eligibility). Associates in this position are also eligible for a quarterly bonus.
What we are searching for
Qualifications
- 15+ years in product management, with significant experience in merchandising, item management, assortment, or space planning with 8+ years in a senior leadership role.
- Proven leadership of large, cross-functional teams managing complex product portfolios.
- Deep understanding of merchandising operations, item data structures, assortment planning, and retail space optimization.
- Strong analytical, strategic, and communication skills; experience with product lifecycle management, assortment, and space planning tools.
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred
Preferred Skills
- Experience in retail or food industry loyalty programs.
What is it like at Albertsons?
Our 290,000 associates have a passion for great service and building lasting relationships with our customers. Through a companywide focus on innovation, we are continually enhancing our digital and product offerings, making it easy for customers to get what they need, wherever they are.
Albertsons is an Equal Opportunity Employer
This Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, or on any other basis prohibited by law. Consistent with applicable state and local law, the Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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