Director, Category Management & Procurement

Rocket stores; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Industry training

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Performance bonuses

401(k) match

Job summary

United Pacific seeks a seasoned Director of Category Management & Procurement in Long Beach, CA. You will lead category management and procurement, optimize product assortments, negotiate supplier terms, and drive profitable growth across our retail portfolio.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in procurement/category management in C-store/grocery settings, strong leadership, data-driven decision making, and excellent communication with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or a related field; MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of procurement/category management/merchandising experience in C-store, big box retail, grocery, or similar retail.
• 7+ years in leadership roles with proven ability to develop high-performing teams.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving with long-term planning focus.
• Exceptional analytical skills with data-driven decision making.
• Proven negotiation skills to secure favorable supplier terms.
• Ability to translate customer/market needs into product assortment, pricing and placement strategies.
• Excellent communication skills with cross-functional teams and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the category management and procurement functions.
• Develop and negotiate terms with suppliers to improve costs and funding.
• Drive promotional strategies to attract customers and grow basket size.
• Strategically manage vendor partnerships aligned with company objectives.
• Collaborate with operations and other stakeholders to execute programs at retail.
• Oversee budgeting and financial performance related to category & procurement.
• Guide team development and maintain high performance standards.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Communication

Financial acumen

Vendor management

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field

MBA

Tools

Procurement software

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Director, Category Management & Procurement

#26-4316

Long Beach, California, United States

Location

Long Beach , California , United States

Job Description

We are looking to hire an Director, Category Management & Procurement that will support the category management team in the Long Beach area.

• We offer industry training, medical, dental and vision insurance, performance bonuses, and a 401(k) match.

The Director of Category Management & Procurement, reporting to the Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising, will lead our category management and procurement functions. This role is critical in driving profitable growth by optimizing product assortments and ensuring that United Pacific's full range of retail products meet the needs of our growing and diverse customer base. The Director will have a deep understanding of the convenience retail industry, strong leadership skills, and a proven track record of successfully leading category management and procurement teams. The ideal candidate will exhibit strategic vision and the ability to execute those strategies at retail. They will be a data-driven,
analytical decision-maker, utilizing external and internal data to validate the success of new and existing programs. The Director will develop effective promotional strategies to attract customers and grow basket at our stores, enhance profitability through price optimization, and secure improved product costs and increased vendor funding through exceptional contract negotiations. The Director will strategically manage vendor partnerships to align with our strategic objectives. They will work closely with operations and other stakeholders to ensure the successful execution of programs at retail.

We are a growing company and believe in providing a great place to work and grow. Our motto is "I Got It!" and if you're looking for a stable, rewarding, challenging career then "I Got It!"

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or a related field. An MBA is highly preferred
• 10+ years of experience in procurement, category management/merchandising in the convenience store industry, big box retail, grocery, or applicable retail environment
• 7+ years in leadership roles with a track record of successfully managing and developing high-performing teams. Ability to inspire, motivate, and guide team members towards achieving strategic goals
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on long-term planning and execution
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to interpret data to make informed decisions that drive business growth
• Proven expertise in negotiating with suppliers to secure favorable terms and build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships
• Ability to understand customer/market needs and trends, with the capacity to translate this knowledge into effective and innovative product assortment, pricing, and placement strategies
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and present ideas to executive leadership
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to develop and manage budgets, analyze financial reports, and make data-driven decisions to drive results
• Ability to adapt to changing market conditions and business needs, with a proactive approach to identifying opportunities
• Proficiency in procurement and category management software and tools, as well as Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Ability to travel as needed.

The job qualifications described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. United Pacific is an EOE.