Entry-Level Food Procurement Category Manager

Checkers & Rally’s; Tampa (FL); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits

Competitive PTO & Holidays

401k with company match

Cell phone reimbursement

Employee discount at restaurants

Job summary

Checkers & Rally’s is hiring an Associate Category Manager, Direct Procurement Food (Entry Level) in Tampa, FL. The role sits in a hybrid work model with 3 days onsite (Tues-Thurs) and 2 days work-from-home (Mon+Fri).

You will manage direct procurement food categories, support sourcing strategies, and help optimize costs across our restaurant network. The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field and 1–3 years in procurement or Sourcing, plus strong Excel skills and stakeholder

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field.
• 1-3 years of experience in procurement, category management, strategic sourcing, supply chain, or related field.
• Basic understanding of Food Supply Chains and Procurement.
• Exposure to supplier negotiations, contract management, sourcing events, and cost analysis.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects, prioritize workload, and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Support end-to-end category management for assigned food ingredients and product categories.
• Assist in developing and executing sourcing strategies aligned with brand objectives, quality standards, and operational requirements.
• Participate in supplier negotiations, contract administration, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Monitor commodity markets, food industry trends, and supplier capabilities to identify opportunities and risks.
• Maintain strong supplier relationships and support performance reviews, scorecards, and issue resolution.
• Manage item setup, product specifications, and lifecycle tracking within procurement systems.
• Ensure accuracy of product data and supplier documentation.
• Responsible for entering food category pricing.
• Support new product launches, product transitions, and Limited Time Offer (LTO) rollouts.
• Analyze spend, pricing trends, and supplier performance using tools such as Excel, Power BI, and procurement platforms.
• Prepare reports and presentations to support sourcing decisions and leadership reviews.
• Convert data into actionable recommendations that improve cost, quality, service, and supply continuity.
• Collaborate with Distribution, Operations, Marketing, Culinary, and Supply Chain teams to support business initiatives.
• Partner with Finance and Legal teams on supplier agreements, business cases, and risk assessments.
• Support cross-functional projects focused on cost savings, quality improvement, sustainability, and process efficiency.
• Shows curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to professional growth by actively learning new processes, systems, and category management best practices while seeking feedback to enhance performance.
• Demonstrates accountability for assigned categories, supplier performance, and project deliverables.
• Takes initiative to identify savings opportunities, process improvements, and operational efficiencies.
• Builds effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external supplier partners.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment and adapts effectively to changing priorities.
• Uses data and analytical insights to support decision-making and problem-solving.
• Maintains a high level of accuracy in item setup, pricing, product specifications, and documentation.
• Communicates clearly and professionally with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Effectively manages multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
• Demonstrates strong organizational, analytical, and critical-thinking skills.
• Stays informed on food industry trends, commodity markets, and supplier innovations.

Skills

Excel

Stakeholder management

Project management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Power BI

Procurement analytics tools

Job description

Checkers & Rally’s is hiring an Associate Category Manager, Direct Procurement Food (Entry Level) in Tampa, FL. The role sits in a hybrid work model with 3 days onsite (Tues-Thurs) and 2 days work-from-home (Mon+Fri).

You will manage direct procurement food categories, support sourcing strategies, and help optimize costs across our restaurant network. The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field and 1–3 years in procurement or Sourcing, plus strong Excel skills and stakeholder