Director, Merchandising (Meat, Poultry, Seafood & Deli)

FreshDirect; New York (NY); On-site; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite parking

Free employee shuttle from subway

20% employee discount

Tuition discount

Job summary

FreshDirect is seeking a Director of Meat, Poultry, Seafood and Deli to own category management, merchandising, and pricing for the department. You will lead a team of category experts and drive category strategy with vendor accountability and cross-functional collaboration.

The ideal candidate has 8-10+ years in grocery retail or eCommerce, especially in perishables, and can translate strategy into actionable plans with a customer-centric focus.

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years’ experience in Grocery Retail, eCommerce, or related industry.
• Experience within Perishable departments is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own Category Management, Merchandising, and Pricing for the Meat, Poultry, Seafood, and Deli department.
• Build and execute category plans that grow sales, sharpen assortment, optimize space, and balance pricing with efficient product flow.
• Continuously evaluate department financial and operational performance against goals, driving corrective action when needed.
• Coach and develop a team of Category Managers, building a culture of accountability, achievement, and collaboration.
• Hold vendors accountable to negotiated performance metrics (i.e. sales, service levels, funding, marketing, and compliance) while assessing supplier capability and viability.
• Cultivate strategic vendor partnerships that unlock synergies, maximize resources, and drive mutual growth.
• Oversee daily and weekly department operations to ensure work is completed accurately and on time.
• Partner cross‑functionally with suppliers and internal teams to strengthen supply chain, procurement, replenishment, and inventory strategies across Fresh divisions.
• Respond quickly to food safety issues and implement preventative measures.
• Drive continuous improvement with Operations, and institute methods that elevate quality perception and customer experience.

Skills

Grocery Retail

eCommerce

Communication skills

Analytical

Excel proficiency

Team leadership

Job description

About Us

At FreshDirect, we are reinventing the grocery experience. Since day one, our mission has been simple: bring the best, freshest food directly from the farm to people’s homes — faster, fresher, and smarter than anyone else. We’re not just a food company. We’re a technology-powered, customer-obsessed team building one of the most innovative end-to-end food supply chains in the industry. From proprietary routing systems to our state-of-the‑art fulfillment center, every part of our business is designed to deliver unmatched quality, convenience, and care. We partner directly with farmers, fishermen, and artisans to source the highest quality ingredients — then use smart data, automation, and logistics to deliver them at peak freshness. It’s grocery shopping reimagined — and we’re just getting started. If you’re passionate about innovation, care deeply about what people eat, and want to help build the future of food, we’d love to meet you.

Brief Description

At FreshDirect, we are reinventing the grocery experience. Since day one, our mission has been simple: bring the best, freshest food directly from the farm to people’s homes — faster, fresher, and smarter than anyone else. We’re not just a food company. We’re a technology-powered, customer-obsessed team building one of the most innovative end-to-end food supply chains in the industry. From proprietary routing systems to our state-of-the‑art fulfillment center, every part of our business is designed to deliver unmatched quality, convenience, and care. We partner directly with farmers, fishermen, and artisans to source the highest quality ingredients — then use smart data, automation, and logistics to deliver them at peak freshness. It’s grocery shopping reimagined — and we’re just getting started. If you’re passionate about innovation, care deeply about what people eat, and want to help build the future of food, we’d love to meet you.

The Role

The Director of Meat, Poultry, Seafood and Deli owns Category Management, Merchandising, and Pricing for the department, driving performance through strategic category plans, vendor accountability, and cross‑functional collaboration. This leader will build and coach a team of category experts while fostering a culture of customer‑centric excellence. The ideal candidate brings proven merchandising success, including product sourcing, eCommerce strategy, and grocery supply chain expertise and a genuine passion for food.

What You’ll Do

• Own Category Management, Merchandising, and Pricing for the Meat, Poultry, Seafood, and Deli department.
• Build and execute category plans that grow sales, sharpen assortment, optimize space, and balance pricing with efficient product flow.
• Continuously evaluate department financial and operational performance against goals, driving corrective action when needed.
• Coach and develop a team of Category Managers, building a culture of accountability, achievement, and collaboration.
• Hold vendors accountable to negotiated performance metrics (i.e. sales, service levels, funding, marketing, and compliance) while assessing supplier capability and viability.
• Cultivate strategic vendor partnerships that unlock synergies, maximize resources, and drive mutual growth.
• Oversee daily and weekly department operations to ensure work is completed accurately and on time.
• Partner cross‑functionally with suppliers and internal teams to strengthen supply chain, procurement, replenishment, and inventory strategies across Fresh divisions.
• Respond quickly to food safety issues and implement preventative measures.
• Drive continuous improvement with Operations, and institute methods that elevate quality perception and customer experience.

What You’ll Bring

• 8-10+ years’ experience in Grocery Retail, eCommerce, or related industry. Experience within Perishable departments is preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including presentation skills
• Analytically minded with strong organizational skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, particularly in Excel.
• Significant project management experience, and an ability to manage mid‑sized projects.
• Demonstrated success developing and building strong teams.
• Strong executive presence with a proven ability to present to and influence senior leadership, translating category strategy into compelling, actionable recommendations.

Our Values at FreshDirect

A Passion for our customers Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We listen, innovate, and act quickly to exceed expectations with every order and interaction.

One team, one mission Everyone contributes & every role matters. We break silos, lift each other up, and share a relentless focus on delivering results. That way, we win together.

Delivering excellence, every time We take pride in the quality of our food, service, and the experience we create. Our team goes above and beyond to earn trust and guarantee 100% freshness.

Act with integrity We operate with honesty, respect, and accountability in how we treat our customers, teammates, and partners. We own our outcomes and always do what’s right, even when no one is watching.

Make fast, bold decisions We challenge the status quo, embrace technology, and take smart risks to build a better future. At the same time, we stay true to our NYC roots and care for our community.

We love food. Yes, literally all of us.

What You’ll Love About Working Here

• A fast‑paced, innovative environment where ideas turn into action
• Opportunities for growth — many of our leaders have risen through the ranks
• Direct impact on how thousands of customers experience food every day

Salary

$160,000 – $180,000

Total Rewards & Benefits

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
• PTO, Safe & Sick Time, and Paid Holidays
• Medical, Vision, Dental, and Voluntary Disability coverage
• 401(k) with employer match and Life Insurance
• State‑of‑the‑art Bronx campus with on‑site basketball court, cafeteria, and employee market
• Onsite FREE parking
• FREE employee shuttle bus service from nearby Subway station
• Training, leadership development, and tuition discount at local colleges
• 20% employee discount on FreshDirect online orders and Brooklyn wine store
• Minimum 50% employee discount at our onsite employee market
• Mobile phone discounts through partnerships with T‑Mobile and Verizon
• Gym membership discounts through NYSC

Our Culture

We embrace an in‑office culture, composed of individuals who thrive on the collaboration and energy that comes from working together in a shared space. We are looking for people who excel in this environment, where physical presence enhances connections and engagement. At FreshDirect, we've created an environment that thrives on teamwork, where associates can innovate, grow, and have successful careers. Many of our leaders have successfully come up through our ranks. Because of our team's extraordinary efforts, we are a leading innovator in the e‑commerce and grocery industries.

Equal Opportunity

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Fresh Direct, LLC and its affiliates do not discriminate against applicants or employees because of their race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, marital status, veteran status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by federal, state, or local law.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the Team member(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of individuals in this position. Position expectations may be subject to change as the needs of the organization changes.