Food & Beverage Category Manager

Clark Associates

Lancaster (Lancaster County)

Hybrid

USD 70,000 - 100,000

Full time

16 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Dental

PTO

Paid Maternity Leave

Paid Parental Leave

Life Insurance

Disability

Dependent Care FSA

401(k) matching

Employee Assistance Program

Wellness Incentives

Company Discounts

AT&T & Verizon Discount

Bonus Opportunities

Accident Insurance

Critical Illness Insurance

Adoption Assistance

Job summary

Clark Associates is seeking a Food & Beverage Category Manager to manage performance in a major category, develop growth strategies, and nurture supplier partnerships. This hybrid role requires 3 days per week in-person and is based near Lancaster, PA.

You will drive pricing, quality, and service improvements while aligning with company goals to deliver customer value. Relevant experience across procurement and category management is valued.

Qualifications

2-5 years of experience in a similar role such as category manager or buyer.
Education in Business Management, Supply Chain, Marketing, or related field is common but not required.

Responsibilities

Oversee category management within an assigned segment or major category, ensuring alignment with business and category strategies.
Negotiate and execute annual vendor programs that deliver competitive pricing, favorable terms, and strategic value.
Develop, implement, and own growth strategies for assigned categories.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key vendors to support long-term category objectives and overall catalog strategy.
Identify opportunities for improvement across pricing, quality, and service, and implement enhancements proactively.
Apply proficiency in category analysis and development to optimize performance and support strategic decision-making.
Utilize strong organizational and communication skills to collaborate effectively across internal and external partners.
Demonstrate knowledge of product materials, features, and attributes to inform category strategy and product decisions.
Independently identify category improvement opportunities and execute plans to address them.

Skills

Category analysis

Organizational skills

Product knowledge

Independent problem solving

Job description

Job Summary

The Food & Beverage Category Manager is responsible for managing performance within an assigned product segment or major category. This role develops and executes growth strategies, negotiates competitive vendor programs, and nurtures strong supplier partnerships that support overall catalog and category objectives. The Food & Beverage Category Manager drives continuous improvement in pricing, processes, quality, and service while ensuring alignment with organizational goals and delivering value to customers. This is a hybrid position that requires 3 days a week in-person.

Responsibilities

Oversee category management within an assigned segment or major category, ensuring alignment with business and category strategies
Negotiate and execute annual vendor programs that deliver competitive pricing, favorable terms, and strategic value
Develop, implement, and own growth strategies for assigned categories
Build and maintain strong relationships with key vendors to support long-term category objectives and overall catalog strategy
Identify opportunities for improvement across pricing, quality, and service, and implement enhancements proactively
Apply proficiency in category analysis and development to optimize performance and support strategic decision-making
Utilize strong organizational and communication skills to collaborate effectively across internal and external partners
Demonstrate knowledge of product materials, features, and attributes to inform category strategy and product decisions
Independently identify category improvement opportunities and execute plans to address them

Physical Requirements

Work is performed while sitting/standing and interfacing with a personal computer.
Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision, and hearing.
Requires the regular use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations.
Requires occasional bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, and reaching.
Requires the ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull medium weights, up to 50lbs.

Remote Work Qualifications

Access to a reliable and secure high-speed internet connection. Cable or fiber internet connections (at least 75mbps download/10mbps upload) are preferred, as satellite connections often cannot support the technologies used to perform day-to-day tasks.
Access to a home router and modem.
A dedicated home office space that is noise-and-distraction-free. The space should have strong wireless connection or a wired Ethernet connection (wired connection is preferred, if possible).
A valid, physical address (apartment, suite, etc.). PO Boxes are not supported, as a physical address is required for you to receive your computer equipment.
The desire and ability to work and communicate with other team members via chat, webcam, etc.
Legal residents of one of the following states: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, or WY). H-1B Visa Sponsorship Not Available, W2 only.

Experience

2-5 years of experience in a similar role or related work such as category manager or buyer
We consider applicants with diverse majors and work history; however, applicants frequently have education in Business Management, Supply Chain, Business Logistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Marketing, or a related field. Relevant positions include Buyer, Procurement Analyst, Sourcing Operations Analyst, Vendor Manager, and Pricing Analyst.

Education

This role does not require a degree. We value relevant skills and experience and alignment with our core values above all else.

Desired Traits & Skills

Mastery and proven track record of all duties, skills, and responsibilities of a Category Analyst/Developer
Strong organizational and communication skills
Knowledge of product materials and product features
Ability to identify improvement areas for categories and implement plans independently

Company Overview

A rapidly growing, multi-divisional company headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with services supporting all of Clark's distribution methods in the food service industry.

Benefits