Category Manager, Protein (Tempo)

Home Chef (Internal Employees); Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401k program

Paid holidays and vacation time

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

Home Chef (Internal Employees) is seeking a seasoned professional to lead the end-to-end strategy for the Tempo Protein category in Chicago. This role requires someone to manage supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, and ensure supply continuity, making it ideal for a candidate with 5+ years in procurement and sourcing.

Strong leadership skills and a background in food and beverage are essential. The position offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and a dynamic work environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of procurement and sourcing experience, preferably in food.
• Strong ability to manage multiple cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills and data translation skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end strategy for the Tempo Protein category.
• Develop and maintain category strategy aligned with company goals.
• Build strategic supplier partnerships and manage RFPs.

Skills

Procurement and sourcing experience

Executive-level communication

Analytical mindset

Data orientation

Cross-functional team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

Excel

Job description

Own the end-to-end strategy and execution of the Tempo Protein category, balancing customer experience, supply continuity, product innovation, and financial performance. This role serves as the primary business owner for the category, partnering cross-functionally to identify opportunities, solve complex problems, and deliver results in a fast-paced, highly visible environment.

This role is best suited for someone who enjoys building processes where they don't yet exist, thrives in a rapidly changing environment, and views ambiguity as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain category strategy, in service of company-wide goals
• Own the identification, evaluation, and choice of suppliers and SKUs for the category
• Coordinate, negotiate, and manage RFPs with both new and current suppliers
• Build strategic supplier partnerships that foster innovation, improve performance, reduce cost, and strengthen long-term supply continuity
• Conduct supply market analysis and collect supplier intelligence to drive sourcing process
• Work closely with culinary team to identify new ingredient needs and test new suppliers
• Coordinate with Cross Functional Partners to ensure all new suppliers meet Home Chef guidelines and expectations
• Act as point on highly visible new protein A/B and Market tests
• Partner with legal to negotiate contract terms with key supplier partners and ensure terms + conditions of those contracts are managed and met
• Work with Procurement Operations, Warehouse and site teams to improve supply chain performance
• Collaborate with local sites and supplier partners to problem solve regular supply disruptions and secure product in time for weekly meal production
• Own category performance, proactively monitoring key metrics including cost, quality, supply continuity, customer feedback, inventory health, and supplier performance.
• Attend industry conferences to identify new trends, suppliers and/or ingredients
• Identify, prioritize, and commercialize new product opportunities that support customer experience, operational efficiency, and financial goals

This position requires 10% travel.

Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed for this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.

• The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability and/or other characteristics needed for this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.
• 5+ years of procurement and sourcing experience (food category-related preferred)
• Background in food and beverage industry highly preferred
• Executive-level succinct communication, both verbal and written; discernment when delivering updates
• Strong data and numerical orientation; baseline Excel/GSheet knowledge (index/match, pivot tables, gut-checking data)
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate complex data into actionable business recommendations
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple cross-functional initiatives with competing timelines
• Ability to lead cross functional teams and stakeholders, and respectfully hold them accountable
• Passion for food and for working in a fast-paced, quickly-growing, entrepreneurial environment a plus
• Completion of a four-year degree program in a related field

Perks and benefits

• Candidates can experience Home Chef as a customer - enter promo code PEOPLE30 for $30 off your first order!
• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance available
• Paid holidays, sick time and vacation time
• 401k program
• Flexible spending accounts for qualified medical, dependent care, parking, or transit expenses

We welcome people of all races, colors, religions, national origin or ancestry, sex (including sexual identity), age, physical or mental disabilities, pregnancy, veteran or military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, order of protection status, citizenship status, arrest record or expunged/sealed convictions, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law.

Home Chef is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Home Chef will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact our People team [e-mail].

Home Chef offers the base salary range as posted below, with the exact offer depending on factors such as geographic location, experience, skills, and internal equity. While compensation is within the provided range, it is not typical for offers to be made at the upper end. In addition to base salary, Home Chef provides a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare coverage, 401k match, and paid time off.

$90,000 - $105,000 USD