Category Manager, Meat

Wakefern Food Corp.; Elizabeth (NJ); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Holidays

Parental leave

Wellness programs

Educational opportunities

Job summary

Wakefern Food Corp. seeks a Category Manager to develop and execute category strategies across a broad product portfolio, driving sales growth and profitability.

You will partner with buying, marketing, merchandising, and analytics to translate data into actionable plans and optimize assortments, pricing, and promotions. Responsibilities include analyzing national and regional data, leading category initiatives, and guiding analysts to deliver insights that improve overall performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field is required or current enrollment with 60+ credits.
• Strong analytical capabilities with detail- and data-driven orientation.
• Experience in procurement, product management across meat commodities is preferred.
• 1–3 years of supermarket or related retail experience is desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate cross-functionally to achieve category objectives.
• Provide member insights and guidance on product performance and strategy.
• Develop and execute short- and long-term category plans.
• Lead category management projects to optimize assortments and promotions.
• Drive sales growth and maximize profitability for the cooperative.
• Analyze customer data to inform growth strategies.
• Identify process improvements and leverage AI-enabled insights.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Meat commodities knowledge

Inventory management

Data analysis

Forecasting

Ad planning

Meat cutting experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field

Tools

Excel

BI tools

Job description

Wakefern Food Corp. is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States and supports its co-operative members' retail operations, trading under the ShopRite®, Price Rite®, The Fresh Grocer®, Dearborn Markets®, and Gourmet Garage® banners.

Employing an innovative approach to wholesale business services, Wakefern focuses on helping the independent retailer compete in a big business world. Providing the tools entrepreneurs need to stay a step ahead of the competition, Wakefern’s co-operative members benefit from the company’s extensive portfolio of services, including innovative technology, private label development, and best-in-class procurement practices.

About You

The Category Manager supports the development and execution of category strategies that drive sales growth, profitability, and customer value for the cooperative. This role collaborates cross‑functionally with buying, marketing, merchandising, and analytics partners to deliver customer‑focused insights, optimize assortments, and support both short‑and long‑term category plans across a broad portfolio of products. The position is responsible for analyzing national and regional customer data, developing data‑driven recommendations, and supporting category initiatives related to assortment, pricing, promotions, forecasting, and ad planning. Success in this role requires strong analytical capability, working knowledge of meat commodities and retail operations, and the ability to translate insights into actionable business strategies that support the cooperative.

Core Functions

The core functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Effectively navigates the organization and collaborates cross‑functionally to achieve category objectives
• Provides Wakefern Members with customer‑focused insights and guidance related to product performance and category strategy
• Develops and executes short and long‑term category plans and strategies
• Provides direction and guidance to analyst resources as needed to support category initiatives
• Leads category management projects to optimize assortments, merchandising, and overall category performance
• Manages a broad portfolio of products, developing tailored strategies to drive results across categories
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships with buying, marketing, and merchandising partners
• Actively drives sales growth and maximizes profitability for the cooperative
• Analyzes national and regional customer data to develop recommendations that support business growth
• Champion continuous improvement by identifying process efficiencies, leveraging technology and AI‑enabled insights, and adapting to evolving market trends
• Demonstrates proficiency in utilizing AI and digital technologies to analyze complex data, generate actionable insights, automate routine analytical tasks, and support fact-based category strategies that improve operational efficiency and business results.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field, or currently enrolled with a minimum of 60 college credits completed
• Working knowledge of procurement and product management across meat commodities, including beef, poultry, pork, lamb, veal, smoked, and frozen meats
• Strong analytical skills with a high aptitude for detail‑and data‑driven work; advanced computer proficiency required
• Prior inventory management and/or warehouse distribution experience strongly preferred
• 1–3 years of supermarket or related retail experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership capability and strong customer service orientation
• Proven ability to analyze key data and draw accurate conclusions to support category and business decisions
• Solid understanding of retail insights and performance drivers
• Experience leading or supporting category strategies, including assortment/ranging, pricing, and promotional planning across customer channels
• Meat cutting experience preferred
• Experience with ad planning, forecasting, and promotional execution

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

• Ability to sit/stand in front of a computer for long periods of time
• Ability to participate in retail store visits
• Ability to travel as required
• Ability to work a four day in office hybrid schedule as established by the organization

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $90,000 to $125,000 annually. Placement in the range depends on several factors, including experience, skills, education, geography, and budget considerations.

Wakefern is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, well-being, and professional development of our Associates. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with company match, paid time off, holidays, and parental leave. Associates also enjoy access to wellness and family support programs, fitness reimbursement, educational and training opportunities through our corporate university, and a collaborative, team-oriented work environment. Many of these benefits are fully or partially funded by the company, with some subject to eligibility requirements.

About The Work

This job description is intended to set forth the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of the work performed by associates for this position. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates to do this job. Associates may be assigned additional responsibilities as necessary.

The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and to require associates to perform other tasks such as circumstances or conditions of its business, competitive considerations or the work environment changes. This document describes the position currently available and is not an employment contract. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. If requested, reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The position covered by this Job Description is expressly declared to be “at will,” meaning Wakefern has the right to terminate the incumbent’s employment at any time, with or without cause. Any written or oral promises or representations to the contrary are expressly disavowed and should not be relied upon by any associate. Any change to this “at will” employment status must be in writing and signed by the Vice President of Human Resources.