Area Category Operations Manager

US Foods, Inc.; New Jersey; On-site; USD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pre-tax spending accounts

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Short-term and long-term disability

Employee stock purchase plan

Life insurance

Job summary

US Foods, Bridgeport, NJ, seeks an Area Category Operations Manager to implement the Area produce category strategy across multiple DCs. You will analyze assortment, drive growth, and maintain alignment with national plans while supporting local customer requirements.

Collaborate with culinary, sales, QA, and logistics teams to ensure quality, delivery accuracy, and effective communication. This role includes managing area coordinators and participating in market strategy execution.

Qualifications

• Four-year college degree in business or related field required.
• Strong category management experience.
• Excellent presentation and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Own Area produce category and operational strategies for multiple DCs.
• Review Area product assortment and identify growth opportunities and optimize penetration.
• Drive profitable sales growth while aligning with national category strategy.
• Coordinate weekly produce communications with the sales team and vendors.
• Collaborate with QA, replenishment, and logistics to ensure quality and on-time delivery.
• Support area-specific bids and onboarding for key accounts.

Skills

Category management

Presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Change management

Education

Four-year college degree in business or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

## Area Category Operations ManagerApply: Bridgeport NJ: Full time: Posted Today: R283623ARE YOU A CURRENT US FOODS EMPLOYEE? PLEASE APPLY DIRECTLY THROUGH OUR INTERNAL WORKDAY CAREER SITEJoin Our Community of Food People!Support and execute the implementation of US Foods produce category strategy across the defined Area. Recommended assortment changes and support positive local vendor relationships for all DCs within the area. Work with Area sales leaders, specialists and other customer support roles to drive key account development. Own produce assortment updates, informational inquiries and delivery of produce goals for all markets 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: Own implementation plan for Area produce category and operational strategies customized for multiple Distribution Centers. Ensure implementation is in alignment with overall US Foods category strategy, goals and defined Area needs.Review assigned Area product assortment and gauge product penetration, noting slow or dead products as well as growth opportunities. Responsible for profitable sales growth within assigned categories for their Area. Ensure Area product assortment is in alignment with US Foods category strategy and work to reduce product 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. Ensure weekly produce communication with the sales team. Implement produce strategy with leadership and ensure all quality objectives are met. Work with the corporate team covering delayed trucks and potential shorted items. Communicated market and area needs with our overall corporate strategy. Communicate issues to sellers and customers ahead of arrival with alternatives.Facilitate product training and new product introductions, with DSS, Specialists and sales staff and Specialists. 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.Work with QAs, replenishment and Logistics to maintain quality, on time delivery and service levels through good communication and produce operations. Manage local fill in vendors and assure customer satisfaction. Working with logistics to track critical inbound product and resolve local issues as they arise. . Work with operations Inventory Control and QA to identify overstock and set plan to sell product quickly, at a discount if needed.SUPERVISION Area and Market Quality Assurance Coordinators and Supervisors 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. Project management experience preferred. Experience in the Food Service or Food Manufacturing industries strongly preferred.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. This role may also receive an annual incentive plan bonus.Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance.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$75,000 - $120,000**\\*\\*\\*EOE – Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/****Age/Genetic Information****/Protected Veteran/Disability Status\\*\\*\\***