Category Manager, Berries

Oppy; Newark (DE); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental & vision benefits

401k match

Tuition reimbursement

Wellness programs

Job summary

Oppy, a leading grower, marketer, and distributor of fresh produce, is seeking a Category Manager for the Berry category. You will manage grower relations, drive category growth, and collaborate with the sales team to optimize pricing, contracts, and market intelligence.

You will analyze sales and supply data, build partnerships with growers, and develop strategies to maximize program profitability in a dynamic market. Travel approximately 20% is expected.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of successful experience in sales, category management, and/or grower relations within the produce industry (berry category preferred).
• Strong knowledge of berry production cycles, grower economics, and settlement structures.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute grower and category initiatives to maximize sales and revenue.
• Build and maintain grower relationships and manage contracts, pricing, and volume commitments.
• Collaborate with Oppy Sales and internal teams to align supply, market trends, and retail/foodservice needs.
• Lead market analysis, forecast, and reporting to support category plans.

Skills

Berry category knowledge

Grower relations

Negotiation

Excel

Education

Business degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Grow our tomorrow.Oppy is a leading grower, marketer, and distributor of fresh produce from around the world. As one of North America’s top produce companies for nearly 165 years, we bring over 100 varieties of produce from 27 countries to 1,300+ retailers in North America and throughout the world. As much as agriculture has shaped the past for humankind, Oppy’s efforts shape its future by sustainably providing families with healthy, safe, and fresh produce to create a better quality of life for all. Our progressive team is called to a higher purpose that raises the economic wellbeing of families and communities who work the land.

Recognized as one Canada’s Best Managed Companies (for the last 20 years!) and a Top 100 Employer, our diverse team of dedicated professionals collaborate and make connections across our locations throughout North and South America. We owe our success to our adaptability, innovative and entrepreneurial approach, our commitment to our people, and the incredible relationships we build. We are looking for talented people who love a fast-paced, dynamic environment where you can grow your skills and career in a sector with abundant opportunity. Growyourtomorrow with us, today.

Overview

Do you have experience in produce category management and are a highly collaborative and organized team player who excels at building productive cross-functional relationships? Do you have an ability to think of your feet, problem-solve and have been recognized for being highly responsive, resilient and proactive? If so, The Oppenheimer Group (Oppy to our friends), has an exciting opportunity for a Category Manager for our dynamic and growing Berry Category. If you are self-motivated, an excellent communicator and a highly dependable team player, then come join a dedicated team of professionals with a role that offers a variety of responsibilities in a dynamic and rewarding industry.

The Category Manager plays a key role in connecting our grower partners with the Oppy Sales team, driving the Berry Category’s commercial success through strong grower relationships, disciplined contracting, market and supply intelligence, and close collaboration with Sales on customer-facing execution. Acting as a key communication link between growers and internal teams, the Category Manager manages grower relations, ensures partners receive timely and relevant information, and supports category growth by prospecting and acquiring new growers in alignment with Oppy’s growth strategy and business requirements. Providing both strategic leadership and tactical support, this role develops and executes grower and category initiatives, analyzes sales, forecast, supply, and market data, and works closely with internal and external partners to execute category plans. The Category Manager contributes to the strategic direction of the Berry Category, identifying opportunities to maximize sales and revenue while working to deliver the strongest possible returns to growers based on prevailing market conditions. Success in this role requires strong commercial judgement, effective cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to build and maintain positive grower relationships while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment.

Accountabilities

Grower Relations & Network Development

• Identify, recruit, and onboard new high-quality growers to expand production and increase market share.
• Serve as the trusted link between our grower partners and the Oppy Sales team.
• Deliver tough news (e.g., market drops, quality rejections, allocation cuts) swiftly, directly, and with respect.
• Build and leverage an extensive industry network to stay ahead of supply and demand shifts.
• Negotiate grower contracts, pricing, and volume commitments that drive farm profitability while keeping our programs competitive.
• Ensure grower returns remain competitive against market benchmarks to maintain long-term loyalty.
• Oversee prompt, accurate, and transparent grower settlements to build operational trust.

Market Analysis & Supply Planning

• Call supply and demand trends accurately to optimize daily, weekly, and seasonal market positioning.
• Maintain continuous line-of-sight on pack planning and specialized packaging inventory to avoid operational bottlenecks.
• Build and execute robust contingency plans to safeguard core retail/foodservice program business during weather events or supply disruptions.
• Partner daily with the sales team to align field supply with customer demand and promotional timing.
• Step into customer meetings alongside sales to present category insights, supply projections, and seasonal outlooks to key retail/foodservice buyers.
• Ensure tight execution in meeting quality, volume, pack, and delivery commitments for our customer program business.

Required Knowledge & Abilities

• Expert knowledge of fresh produce categories, including a strong understanding of berry production cycles, grower economics, and settlement structures; depth of knowledge in produce retail, wholesale, and food service markets.
• Knowledge of department and company plans, policies and procedures pertaining to sales, quality control & operations, and accounting & finance.
• Knowledge of the concepts, methods, standards, and practices of shipping, receiving, and distribution of goods in the produce industry.
• Proven experience in comprehending data related to sales and marketing trends, forecasting, costing models, market returns, and reporting; demonstrated ability to analyze sales and marketing information, develop effective solutions, and monitor outcomes.
• Proven experience negotiating complex supplier and grower agreements, with a strong understanding of the financial and commercial considerations influencing grower relationships and market returns.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite applications (including Outlook, Word, Excel); ability to create complex reports and analyze data using Microsoft Excel preferred.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication (written & verbal), negotiation, and customer service skills; comfortable having candid, difficult conversations under pressure.
• Skilled in preparing and delivering executive-level presentations, with a strong capability to communicate and tailor messages effectively to a diverse audience.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with various departments, building and fostering positive, effective working relationships both inside and outside the organization.
• Strong organization and time management skills; ability to prioritize multiple demands in a timely manner without compromising the quality or accuracy of work.
• Self-motivated with high standards and attention to detail; ability to set priorities and work accurately within tight deadlines in a team-oriented, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to exercise good judgement while maintaining confidentiality; demonstrates a high level of integrity, ethics, and professionalism at all times.
• A proactive approach to identifying opportunities for process improvement, optimizing workflow efficiency, and achieving team objectives within the organization.
• Positive and engaging attitude, with a commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and fun working environment.
• Ability to travel periodically to grower regions and trade events (approx. 20%).

Required Qualifications

• Degree, diploma in business with a focus on sales and marketing; agribusiness is an asset.
• Minimum, 5+ years of successful and proven experience in sales, category management and/or grower relations management within the produce industry (berry category preferred).

Why Oppy?

• We are the perfect size of organization that is still nimble but yet organized, where meaningful impact and contributions happen.
• We have a strong culture with terrific people that care about the business and each other. We want our people to grow and succeed.
• We believe in you bringing your best true self and your best ideas, because diverse perspectives contribute to better problem solving and solutions in a dynamic and ever evolving industry.
• We support your professional development and health with educational reimbursement and wellness programs.
• We offer a comprehensive total compensation package that includes health, dental & vision coverage, 401k match, tuition reimbursement and benefits.

Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment

Oppy is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer who actively seeks to recruit retain individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are dedicated to fostering a culture where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered to be themselves at work. We care about the uniqueness of our applicants, employees, and partners. Diversity is fundamental to our success because it brings a range of perspectives that fuel innovation and excellence. That’s why we’re focused on creating an inclusive culture where every employee can contribute their unique talents and ideas.

We gratefully thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates under consideration will be contacted directly.