Application deadline: Feb 17, 2026

The Forager, Category Merchant supports Whole Foods Market’s status as the growth destination for founders and early-stage brands. This role is focused on discovering local and emerging brands and supporting community connection through taste of place. Success is measured by creating a locally relevant customer experience and establishing an emerging brand pipeline. Serves as an industry expert and engages with the local and emerging supplier community through various platforms, including trade-show supplier summits and the Local and Emerging Accelerator Platform (LEAP). Nurtures relationships and meets suppliers where they are to provide the right tools for brand growth, development, and Local advocacy.

Key job responsibilities

• Key job responsibilities
• Ensures that Whole Foods Market’s customers have an unparalleled locally relevant experience by developing relevant brands and surfacing geographical taste preferences.
• Partners cross-functionally with Merchants, Marketing, and Retail/Area Operations to drive speed to market, strong execution in stores, and storytelling.
• Supports the development for local and emerging suppliers to onboard, activate and grow including quality standards compliance, distribution, promo planning, demo activation, and marketing support.
• Drives goals of the team and organization.
• Works cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders to collect data-driven insights, integrates industry trends and emerging challenges to develop recommendations about new, creative, and innovative products in support of Category Merchant strategies.
• Develops local and emerging product and innovation strategy within assigned geographies based on category strategies, customer and product trends, competitive landscape, and Whole Foods Market differentiators.
• Supports category assortment strategies including supplier line reviews, local and emerging brands assortment analysis, and monitoring WFM and competitor product development.
• Plans effective local and emerging brands promotions and supports marketing initiatives.
• Supports execution of category pricing strategies and helps ensure financially sound and value adding pricing tactics.
• Applies analytical skills to evaluate and interpret complex issues in purchasing, procurement, contract, delivery, quality, pricing and other issues.
• Translates and analyzes complex data, ensuring timely and effective communication with all levels of the organization.
• Engages in strategic industry events through attendance, participating in panel discussions, networking functions, and other events.
• Plays a key and influential role working with others, in groups, in cross-functional settings and with diverse stakeholders internally and externally.
• Serves as a resource on WFM capabilities and captainships.
• Provides coaching and mentoring for new TMs

Skills:

• Demonstrates general understanding of WFM business, food retail industry, and the business models of key strategic partners and competitors.
• Possesses clear understanding of center store retail business objectives, including all aspects of pricing, merchandising, retail operations, financial analysis and reporting, and competitive strengths and opportunities.
• Establishes challenging goals for self and others that are designed to achieve exceptional business results.
• Understands financial goals and guidelines, tracks ongoing progress, and follows up on assigned responsibilities.
• Proficient with data analysis and able to understand statistics and modeling of consumer behavior.
• Makes item decisions independently, but may leverage team leader for final call on key decisions.
• Able to develop product innovation ideas and adapt quickly to changes and feedback.
• Able to compare business to established targets, develop plans, quantify initiatives, and monitor progress.
• Proficient in pulling financial reports, analyzing business trends, and assessing underlying drivers of results.
• Highly proficient computer skills, including with Microsoft Office.
• Able to hold supplier meetings independently.
• Works tenaciously to overcome obstacles and to meet or exceed goals, measures progress, and evaluates results.
• Remains self-disciplined, prevents irrelevant issues or distractions from interfering with timely completion of important tasks, reprioritizes as appropriate.
• Infuses clarity in team structure, accountability, and goals; seeks feedback from stakeholders to help improve performances.
• Fosters a work environment that encourages people to act with integrity and treat each other and their ideas
  with respect.
• Conveys messages logically, simply, succinctly, and at the right pace; does not digress, demonstrates strong interpersonal communication skills and levels of tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
• Communicates effectively with all types of audiences, internally and externally, in both written and verbal mediums.
• Solid change management skills, demonstrates flexibility to perform in a dynamic environment.
• Creative problem-solving skills, maturity to handle ambiguity.
• Models WFM leadership principles, core values, and commitment to customer service

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, or 4+ years of management experience
• Knowledge of Excel at an advanced level
• Experience in stakeholder management and communication management

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of and experience with specialty cheese

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.

USA, , - 25.00 - 45.00 USD hourly