Area Category Manager - COP

usfoods; Manassas (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

US Foods is seeking a seasoned Category Manager to implement the division's category strategy across the defined Area and its Distribution Centers. You will drive recommended assortment changes, optimize SKUs, and nurture local vendor relationships while aligning with national directives.

You will support Area and DC sales staff with assortment updates, inquiries, and achieving merchandising goals, leveraging market data and cross-functional collaboration to enhance profitability and performance.

Qualifications

• Education: Four-year college degree in business or related field.
• Experience: Minimum 7 years category management experience, with some project management preferred.
• Knowledge/Skills: Operate within a matrix organization, work in a team, drive transformations, provide fact-based recommendations, strong business acumen, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Proficiency: Word and Excel required; PowerPoint and Access beneficial.
• Compensation: Based on experience and location, with applicable wage laws.

Responsibilities

• Develop implementation plan for category strategy customized for multiple Distribution Centers.
• Ensure implementation aligns with overall US Foods category strategy and Area needs.
• Review Area product assortment and identify growth opportunities and slow/dead SKUs.
• Drive profitable sales growth within assigned categories for the Area.
• Coordinate new SKUs, DWOs, and conversion plans as needed.
• Align Area assortment with US Foods strategy and reduce SKU duplication.
• Harvest local market data through culinary, sales, and vendor feedback.

Skills

Category management

Project management

Matrix organization experience

Data analysis

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Education

Four-year college degree in business or related field

Equivalent field experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Microsoft Access

Job description

Join Our Community of Food People!

Support and execute the implementation of US Foods division category strategy across the defined Area. Execute recommended assortment changes and support positive local vendor relationships for all DCs within the defined Area. Support Area and DC sales staff with product assortment updates, informational inquiries and delivery of merchandising goals for all DCs within that Area. Support all local customer requirements within the defined Area keeping in line with the national strategies coming from the Center.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

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

SUPERVISION

None

RELATIONSHIPS

Internal: Regional, Area and Distribution Center staff, up to and including members of the leadership team.

External: Customers, vendors, suppliers and all national / local food brokers.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Training: Four-year college degree in business or related field, or equivalent field experience required.

Related Experience : Minimum 7 years category management experience required, with some project management experience preferred, ideally this experience will derive from the food service or food manufacturing industries.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities : Must possess the ability to operate successfully within a matrix organization, working effectively with multiple groups. Must be able to work in a team setting, drive organizational transformations and support change management within the organization. Must be able to provide fact-based recommendations across a variety of management levels resulting in buy-in and improvement in category performance. Must be self-directed and highly motivated, possessing a strong business acumen, sound interpersonal skills, and excellent presentation skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, and Excel required; working knowledge of PowerPoint is required, working knowledge of Microsoft Access a plus.

Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state or local minimum wage thresholds).

The expected base rate for this role is between

$85,000 - $135,000

EOE - Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/ Age/Genetic Information /Protected Veteran/Disability Status