US Foods is a large U.S. foodservice distributor serving food businesses with a broad selection of products, culinary equipment, and operational support. Its work spans food and beverage distribution, logistics, and eCommerce, with an emphasis on product innovation, food safety, sustainability, and practical resources that help customers run their operations and respond to varied dietary needs. For prospective employees, the company offers a view into the interconnected work behind sourcing, distributing, and supporting foodservice customers at scale.
Associate Category Manager, Grocery and Non-Foods (Hybrid)
Support grocery and non-food category strategy for US Foods through assortment, pricing, vendor, promotion, and product performance analysis. The role also contributes to merchandising initiatives, negotiations, and product launches.
Description
- Analyze assortment, pricing changes, vendor proposals, and agreements to improve category performance.
- Coordinate category work including product and assortment reviews, vendor negotiations, RFPs, RFIs, and pricing initiatives.
- Manage assigned category performance across growth objectives, assortment, pricing, promotions, and new product introductions.
- Maintain performance reports and identify trends, changes, opportunities, and effects against established metrics.
- Prepare RFPs and RFIs and evaluate vendor proposals, agreements, and contracts.
- Manage vendor relationships, lead product reviews, identify opportunities, and negotiate promotions, deals, and Vendor Pricing Allowances.
- Evaluate vendor performance reports, identify issues, and recommend corrective solutions.
- Review product assortments, identify leading SKUs by division and region, and recommend assortment changes.
- Analyze category pricing reports and assess the effects of pricing and assortment changes.
- Create category communications and materials supporting product launches.
- Maintain relationships with US Foods regions and divisions and coordinate resolution of escalated merchandising issues.
- Complete additional duties assigned by the manager.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field, or equivalent experience, is required.
- At least three years of experience in retail, food service, or a consumer goods company.
- Experience with vendor relations, pricing, and product assortment management is required.
- Previous category management experience is strongly preferred.
- Ability to work successfully in a matrix organization and collaborate across groups and organizational levels.
- Strong quantitative and analytical capabilities.
- Strong knowledge of products in the assigned category and division sales requirements, or the ability to develop that knowledge quickly.
- Ability to make fact-based recommendations to management at different levels.
- Highly motivated, self-directed, and able to prioritize, with strong business judgment and interpersonal skills.
- Strong verbal, written, and presentation abilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Microsoft Access experience is a plus.
Benefits
- Annual incentive plan bonus
- Health insurance
- Pre-tax spending accounts
- Retirement benefits
- Paid time off
- Short-term and long-term disability
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Life insurance