Associate Category Manager

truenorth Convenience Stores; Brecksville (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company located in Brecksville, Ohio is looking for an Associate Category Manager – Food Service. In this role, you will manage food service categories and drive growth through effective program execution. The ideal candidate should possess strong organizational skills, have a background in category management or retail food service, and be able to analyze data for actionable insights. This full-time position requires excellent communication skills and involves cross-functional collaboration to enhance the guest experience.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in category management, retail food service, or related field.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to analyze data and translate findings into actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned food service categories including assortment, pricing, and promotional strategy.
• Conduct market research and analyze consumer trends.
• Monitor food safety compliance and ensure execution meets standards.

Skills

Organizational skills

Project management

Data analysis

Communication skills

Vendor relationship management

Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

High School Diploma

Job description

Associate Category Manager – Food Service

Payroll Status: Exempt/Full-Time

Reports to: Food Service Manager

Travel: 35-40%

Purpose

The Associate Category Manager – Food Service plays a key role in the development, execution, and daily management of our onsite food service program. This position manages assigned categories and supports broader initiatives across product assortment, pricing, promotions, and vendor relationships to drive sales growth, enhance food quality, and improve the overall guest experience. Working cross-functionally, the Associate Category Manager – Food Service ensures consistent execution of programs that deliver growth while maintaining operational consistency across all convenience store locations.

Responsibilities

Category Support & Development

• Manage assigned food service categories (prepared food, dispensed beverages or other categories) including assortment, pricing, and promotional strategy.
• Conduct market research and analyze consumer trends to recommend opportunities for assortment improvements.
• Collaborate on the annual category business plan, providing input into strategies that drive both sales and margin growth.
• Support the Senior Food Service Manager in executing large-scale initiatives while independently owning smaller projects and category areas.
• Partner with suppliers to gather product information, enhance product gross profit, and retail pricing.
• Monitor vendor performance and support negotiations for cost, quality, and delivery improvements.
• Participate in managing contracts, invoices, and product setup within company systems.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure food service standards, specifications, and procedures are documented and communicated to store teams.
• Partner with Training and Operations teams to roll out new products, processes, and promotional campaigns.
• Monitor food safety compliance and ensure store execution meets company and regulatory standards.
• Track sales, margins, and inventory performance for food service categories.
• Prepare reports and dashboards to highlight performance trends, opportunities, and risks.
• Support pricing reviews and category resets by providing accurate analysis and recommendations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with Marketing on signage, in-store messaging, and campaign alignment.
• Liaison with Operations teams to gather feedback on program execution and identify improvements.
• Provide support to the Senior Food Service Manager on special projects and strategic initiatives.
• Lead foodservice equipment coordination: recommend appropriate equipment solutions, ensuring Operations teams are trained on proper use and maintenance, and partnering with the Maintenance and Capital Development teams on the investment strategies that drive long‑term profitability.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives and special projects led by the Senior Food Service Manager or senior leadership.

Other Duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred; High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• 3–5 years of experience in category management, retail food service, QSR, or related field.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to analyze data and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and vendor relationship management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, evolving retail environment.
• Must be able to lift and move objects up to 25 pounds as needed.

EEO Statement

True North Management LLC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Seniority Level

Associate

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Marketing and Sales

Industries

Retail