Associate Category Manager

KeHE Distributors, LLC; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 76,230 - 111,744; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Rx

Dental

Vision

FSA/HSA

Supplemental life insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Paid sick time

STD/LTD

ESOP

Holiday pay

Job summary

KeHE Distributors, LLC is seeking an Associate Category Manager in our Naperville, IL area to support the category management team. The role emphasizes data-driven decisions using platforms like Power BI and internal systems, collaborating across departments to drive growth and profitability.

The candidate will analyze vendor performance, assist with output for category managers, and handle ad-hoc analyses with strong time management.

Qualifications

• College diploma or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum one year in Category Management, administration or sales management in the food industry.
• Proficient with Word, Excel (advanced) and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced business environment.
• Willingness to travel domestically ~10-15%.

Responsibilities

• Analyze vendor, brand and SKU performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Communicate profitability information to Category Managers and Account Managers to optimize assortment decisions.
• Manage and update reports on new vendors, SKU productivity, sales performance and roadmaps.
• Assist with bottle deposits, beverage taxes, etc.
• Complete ad-hoc requests and special projects timeliness and accuracy.
• Update training manuals and guides for category managers and vendors.

Skills

Team collaboration

Cross-functional collaboration

Administrative tasks

Process improvement

Policy adherence

Education

College Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Why Work for KeHE?

• Full-time
• Pay Range: $76,230.00/Yr. - $111,744.00/Yr.
• Shift Days: , Shift Time:
• Benefits on Day 1
  • Health/Rx
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
  • Supplemental life insurance
  • 401(k)
  • Paid time off
  • Paid sick time
  • Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
  • Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
  • Holiday pay for company designated holidays

Overview

At KeHE, we’re obsessed with creating solutions, unboxing potential, and serving others – and it all starts with you. As an employee-owned distributor of natural and organic, specialty, and fresh products, we’re committed to making a positive impact and scaling our success together. With a culture that fosters development and opportunity, you’ll be embarking on a career that’s moving forward. When you join KeHE, you’re becoming part of a team that is a force for good.

Primary Responsibilities

The Associate Category Manager is a key asset to KeHE’s Category Management Team. This position is responsible for assisting the category management team in achieving their goals, and objectives and maintaining KeHE’s reputation as a best-in-class distributor. The successful candidate will have strong analytical skills and will work with several data platforms including Power BI and KeHE Connect. Reports can include information regarding sales, unit movement, margin, credits, points of distribution, etc. by vendor, brand and SKU, to assist Category Managers with their decisions. This person will work collaboratively with various departments within KeHE to obtain needed information and provide needed output. It is critically important that the Associate Category Manager be quick and accurate in performing ad-hoc analyses and projects requested by the Category Managers or the Executive Director. This person should have exceptional time management and project management skills. As with all positions at KeHE, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE’s Mission, Vision and Values.

Essential Functions

• Analyze our vendor, brand, and SKU performance, promotional programs and identify opportunities for improvement
• Communicate Vendor and Brand profitability information (based on the above analysis) to our CMs, and as needed to our Account Managers (AMs) so that their own assortment decisions maximize enterprise profit.
• Manage and update reports regarding new vendors, SKU productivity, sales performance, roadmaps, past due inventory, etc.
• Assist with bottle deposits, beverage taxes etc.
• Complete ad-hoc requests and special projects in a timely and accurate fashion
• Update training manuals and guides for category managers and vendors

Minimum Requirements, Qualifications, Additional Skills, Aptitude

• Work as a team player for all planning and implementation of collective projects such as: KeHE trade shows and pavilions, external trade shows (e.g. Expo West, Fancy Food), KeHE publications, webinars, and vendor programs.
• Work collegially and productively with relevant headquarter teams [e.g., marketing, growth solutions, supply chain (replenishment), business analysis, sales enablement, and sales] to achieve quick traction for new products, programs, and continuous sales growth for existing product lines.
• Manage administrative aspects of assigned tasks to assist Category Managers in achieving shared goals and objectives.
• Seek opportunities to improve current processes and procedures
• Follow established company policies and procedures in achieving the above accountabilities

Education and Experience:

• College Diploma or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum one (1) years’ experience in Category Management, administration or sales management within the food industry.
• Proficient with Word, Excel (advanced level), and PowerPoint software.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate findings and recommendations in writing to internal audiences as well as external manufacturers, brokers and KeHE account managers.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced business environment.
• Capacity to learn and process quickly.
• Possess a sense of urgency and attention to accuracy and detail.
• Ability to effectively manage a wide variety of tasks simultaneously and often with minimal direction or time conflicting pressures.
• Willingness to travel domestically, occasionally over weekends (about 10-15%)

Requisition ID

2026-29681

Equal Employer Opportunity Statement

KeHE Distributors provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion or faith, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. 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 as well as the administration of all Human Resources and Talent Acquisition processes.