Category Manager (Seafood)

Join our community of food professionals to support and execute the implementation of US Foods division category strategy across a defined Area. Execute recommended assortment changes and foster positive local vendor relationships for all Distribution Centers (DCs) within the Area. Support Area and DC sales staff with product assortment updates, informational inquiries, and delivery of merchandising goals. Align local customer requirements with national strategies from the Center.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a category strategy plan customized for multiple Distribution Centers.
• Ensure implementation aligns with overall US Foods category strategy, goals, and defined Area needs.
• Review assigned Area product assortment to gauge product penetration, identify slow or dead SKUs, and uncover growth opportunities.
• Drive profitable sales growth within assigned categories for the Area.
• Request exception SKUs as needed to finalize Area assortment, determine DWOs, and create conversion plans.
• Align Area product assortment with US Foods category strategy and reduce SKU duplication.
• Ensure all local customer needs are met while aligning with national strategies.
• Maintain a lead role in gathering local market data (including trends) for multiple DCs through feedback from the culinary team, sales staff, and vendor partners.
• Report new product opportunities and provide competitive data.
• Finalize Area assortment, core complement, and exception SKUs.
• Facilitate product training and new product introductions with DSS, Specialists, and sales staff.
• Ensure product/brand messaging aligns with overall US Foods strategy.
• Collaborate with the culinary team to identify accounts and categories with potential opportunities.
• Support and facilitate all FSQA inquiries for the assigned Area through appropriate procedures.
• Work closely with the Region team on national or regional vendor issues.
• Support major Area-specific account bids through thorough analysis, coordinate customer onboarding, and keep sales staff informed of ongoing category strategy.

Relationships

• Internal: Regional, Area, and Distribution Center staff, including members of the leadership team.
• External: Customers, vendors, suppliers, and national/local food brokers.

Requirements

• Four-year college degree in business or a related field, or equivalent field experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of category management experience, with project management experience preferred.
• Experience ideally derived from the food service or food manufacturing industries.

Skills

• Ability to operate successfully within a matrix organization and work effectively with multiple groups.
• Strong teamwork skills, with the ability to drive organizational transformations and support change management.
• Ability to provide fact-based recommendations across various management levels to secure buy-in and improve category performance.
• Self-directed, highly motivated, with strong business acumen, sound interpersonal skills, and excellent presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel; working knowledge of PowerPoint required; Microsoft Access a plus.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Pre-tax spending accounts
• Retirement benefits
• Paid time off
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Life insurance

Pay

The expected base rate for this role is between $75,000 and $120,000, depending on relevant experience, education, skills, function, and geographic location.