Category Manager - Indirect Purchasing

About the role

The Category Manager – Indirect Purchasing will oversee the day-to-day purchasing program for the entire non-foods/indirect category across all restaurants and central kitchen operations. They will negotiate, benchmark, and conduct RFPs to secure competitive pricing for all items, discover and onboard strategic suppliers, establish forecasting, demand planning, and inventory management processes with suppliers and distributors, manage financials, collaborate with the Director of Procurement and SVP of Supply Chain on driving strategic planning initiatives, and create contingency plans to avoid supply interruptions across the system. They will also streamline procurement and distribution network to optimize efficiencies and simplify operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day purchasing program for the entire non-foods/indirect category across all restaurants and central kitchen operations.
• Negotiate, benchmark, and conduct RFPs to secure competitive pricing for all items.
• Discover and onboard strategic suppliers to support growth into new markets.
• Establish forecasting, demand planning, and inventory management processes with suppliers and distributors.
• Manage financials, including budgets, pricing agreements, and price verification processes.
• Collaborate with the Director of Procurement and SVP of Supply Chain on driving strategic planning initiatives.
• Create contingency plans to avoid supply interruptions across the system.
• Streamline procurement and distribution network to optimize efficiencies and simplify operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Procurement, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of progressive procurement, purchasing, sourcing, supply chain, or distribution experience within the restaurant, foodservice, hospitality, or consumer goods industry.
• Experience managing supplier relationships, contract negotiations, and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Strong financial acumen with experience analyzing pricing, budgets, forecasts, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other business software applications.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience supporting multi-unit restaurant or hospitality operations.
• Experience leading RFP processes and supplier transitions.
• Knowledge of indirect procurement categories including packaging, chemicals, smallwares, equipment, and operating supplies.
• APICS, CPSM, CSCP, or other procurement/supply chain certifications.
• Project management experience with cross-functional business initiatives.

Job Requirements

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while performing computer-based work.
• Ability to operate a computer, keyboard, telephone, and other standard office equipment on a frequent basis.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written formats with suppliers, distributors, restaurant operators, and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to review, analyze, and interpret contracts, pricing documents, reports, spreadsheets, and other procurement-related materials.
• Ability to occasionally move throughout office, warehouse, restaurant, and distribution environments.
• Ability to travel occasionally for supplier meetings, market visits, restaurant support, industry events, or business-related activities.
• Ability to perform work in a fast-paced environment requiring frequent prioritization, problem solving, and management of multiple projects simultaneously.