Director of Category Management - COP/Protein

About the role

The successful candidate will lead category strategy and drive profitable growth across Ferraro Foods' beef, pork, poultry, veal, seafood, and specialty protein portfolio. Reporting to the Vice President of Category Management, this role will partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Procurement, Margin Management, Operations, and supplier partners.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies for fresh and frozen protein and Center of Plate products.
• Drive profitable sales growth, margin improvement, and exclusive-brand penetration across all divisions.
• Lead category reviews and analyze sales, margin, inventory, customer, and market data to identify growth opportunities.
• Evaluate current product assortments, identify product gaps, and recommend new products, suppliers, and category expansion opportunities.
• Partner with Sales leadership to increase customer penetration, convert business to exclusive brands, and support regional sales initiatives.
• Collaborate with Marketing on category promotions, product positioning, branding strategy, sales materials, and go-to-market initiatives.
• Lead the end-to-end RFP process, including category assessment, supplier evaluation, bid analysis, negotiations, and final recommendations.
• Negotiate supplier agreements, pricing, rebates, marketing programs, service levels, and other commercial terms.
• Monitor protein commodity markets, pricing fluctuations, supply conditions, industry trends, and competitor activity.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with domestic and international suppliers, processors, manufacturers, brokers, and other industry partners.
• Partner with Procurement and Supply Chain on forecasting, inventory planning, product availability, quality, and supplier performance.
• Create vendor programs that support sales growth, profitability, customer value, and competitive positioning.
• Create category-specific training and product education for Sales teams and division leadership.
• Present category strategies, financial performance, market conditions, and recommendations to executive leadership.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators, including sales growth, gross margin, exclusive-brand penetration, inventory turns, cases per drop, and lines per drop.
• Recruit, train, coach, and develop category management talent.
• Support acquisition integration by evaluating suppliers, rationalizing assortments, and aligning category strategies across divisions.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience in protein, Center of Plate, Category Management, Procurement, Merchandising, or Strategic Sourcing within foodservice distribution.
• Strong knowledge of beef, pork, poultry, veal, seafood, and related commodity markets.
• Demonstrated experience owning category strategy, assortment decisions, pricing, supplier programs, and financial performance.
• Strong supplier negotiation, contract management, vendor-program, and RFP experience.
• Experience developing private-label or exclusive-brand programs.
• Proven ability to partner with Sales and Marketing to execute category growth initiatives.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, including experience evaluating sales, margin, inventory, forecasts, and market data.
• Leadership experience developing category managers, buyers, or merchandising professionals.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience presenting category reviews and strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
• Experience with Tableau, Power BI, or similar data-visualization tools preferred.
• Able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.
• Willingness to travel as needed to support supplier relationships, regional teams, customer meetings, and industry events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Marketing, Food Science, or a related field.
• Experience with a broadline or specialty foodservice distributor.
• Established relationships with protein manufacturers, processors, brokers, and suppliers.
• Experience working across multiple divisions, regions, or distribution centers.
• Experience integrating categories following acquisitions.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and commercial acumen.
• Strong analytical and financial skills.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.
• Supplier negotiation and contract management.
• Category management and procurement experience.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off, paid holidays, and additional voluntary benefits.

Pay

$125,000 – $165,000, commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Monday – Friday | Standard business hours

Work Location

Onsite | Piscataway, NJ

Travel

As needed to support supplier relationships, regional teams, customer meetings, and industry events.