Category Manager – Ingredients & Vendor Strategy

Recruiting - Original Template; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 58,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Health Benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Nelson-Jameson is seeking a results-oriented Category Manager for a product category within our Ingredients portfolio. This role manages a diverse portfolio of products as a part of food processing.

This role will oversee products that could include brined jalapenos, dried spices, food grade salt, and various other flavor enhancing ingredients. As a Category Manager, you’ll work directly with vendors and help drive profitability through strategic marketing and sales efforts.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience: 2+ years in distribution, sales, or marketing.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for trade shows, training, or customer interaction.

Responsibilities

• Manage and optimize an assigned product portfolio, researching and sourcing new vendors and products to increase sales and profitability.
• Develop strong, strategic relationships with vendors to enhance product offerings and market performance.
• Negotiate pricing and terms with vendors to ensure competitive advantage and maximize profitability.
• Establish, maintain, and communicate standard pricing, adjusting as necessary to improve margins.
• Collaborate with Purchasing to ensure proper inventory levels for the product portfolio.
• Analyze sales data to allocate resources, improve product performance, and identify trends or potential issues.
• Develop and execute marketing strategies for the product portfolio, working closely with the Marketing Department and other stakeholders.
• Measure and report on the effectiveness of marketing efforts, including ROI analysis.
• Ensure regulatory compliance by maintaining accurate quality documentation in coordination with the Regulatory Team.
• Collaborate with the Sales Team to define customer needs through site visits, samples, and trial events.
• Work with vendors to target key accounts, develop pricing programs, and encourage collaboration with sales representatives.
• Direct the duties of the Product Administrator for your assigned product line.

Skills

Distribution knowledge

Travel willingness

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Nelson-Jameson is seeking a results-oriented Category Manager for a product category within our Ingredients portfolio. This role manages a diverse portfolio of products as a part of food processing.

This role will oversee products that could include brined jalapenos, dried spices, food grade salt, and various other flavor enhancing ingredients. As a Category Manager, you’ll work directly with vendors and help drive profitability through strategic marketing and sales efforts.