Category Manager

LHH; New Jersey; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

LHH in Burlington, NJ is seeking an experienced Produce Category Manager to own key produce categories within a growing food organization. This hands-on role combines produce purchasing, category strategy, supplier management, negotiations, quality and food safety to drive value across the supply chain.

You will manage sourcing, pricing, and supplier relationships, collaborate with quality and food safety teams, and look for cost-saving opportunities as the category function matures in the

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of produce buying/category management experience.
• Direct experience purchasing fresh produce.
• Strong understanding of FOB and delivered buying.
• Knowledge of produce pricing, sourcing, availability, and seasonality.
• Understanding of produce quality and food safety.
• Hands-on, growing environment.
• ERP/procurement system experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage assigned produce categories
• Handle sourcing, purchasing, pricing, and supplier negotiations
• Manage FOB and delivered produce purchasing
• Develop and maintain grower/vendor relationships
• Monitor availability, pricing, quality, and supplier performance
• Partner closely with quality and food safety teams
• Identify cost savings and sourcing opportunities
• Help build and develop the category function as the organization grows

Skills

Produce purchasing

Category management

Supplier negotiations

Food safety

Seasonality awareness

Grower relationships

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

We’re looking for an experienced Produce Category Manager to join a growing food organization and take ownership of key produce categories. This is a hands‑on role combining produce purchasing, category strategy, supplier management, negotiations, quality, and food safety.

What You’ll Do

• Own and manage assigned produce categories
• Handle sourcing, purchasing, pricing, and supplier negotiations
• Manage FOB and delivered produce purchasing
• Develop and maintain grower/vendor relationships
• Monitor availability, pricing, quality, and supplier performance
• Partner closely with quality and food safety teams
• Identify cost savings and sourcing opportunities
• Help build and develop the category function as the organization grows

What We’re Looking For

• 3 - 5+ years of produce buying/category management experience
• Direct experience purchasing fresh produce
• Strong understanding of FOB and delivered buying
• Knowledge of produce pricing, sourcing, availability, and seasonality
• Understanding of produce quality and food safety
• Comfortable in a hands‑on, growing environment
• ERP/procurement system experience preferred

Compensation:

$110K–$125K

Schedule:

Hybrid

Location:

Burlington, NJ

Travel:

Occasional

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable: The California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers.