Procurement Manager

Wakefern Food Corp.; Woodbridge Township (NJ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan with company 1:

Paid time off

Parental leave

Wellness programs

Corporate university training

Job summary

Wakefern Food Corp. is seeking a Fresh Bakery Procurement Manager to lead the Fresh Bakery Procurement team across ShopRite banners. You will direct sourcing, pricing, assortment strategies, vendor partnerships, and category performance to support growth and member profitability.

The role partners with cross‑functional teams on budgeting, demand forecasting, and promotions while coaching managers. A Bachelor’s in a related field and 3+ years in procurement or fresh food is required; SAP

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, food marketing, finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of three years of procurement, category management, merchandising, or related fresh food experience, with bakery or perishable category experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to effectively manage and develop associates.
• Strong negotiation, influencing, and relationship management skills.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to leverage data to drive decisions.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, margin management, and business analysis.
• Thorough understanding of retail merchandising, category management, and promotional planning processes.
• Knowledge of procurement principles, supplier management, and inventory planning.
• Working knowledge of Wakefern systems and applications; SAP experience preferred.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong customer service orientation and commitment to supporting cooperative member success.
• Experience utilizing AI-driven tools, reporting platforms, and data analytics solutions to improve business performance is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Fresh Bakery Procurement team to achieve budgeted sales, gross profit, inventory, and category performance goals across all zones and banners.
• Direct the training, development, coaching, and performance management of Fresh Bakery Procurement associates.
• Develop and execute strategic sourcing, pricing, promotional, and assortment strategies to drive sales growth, market share, and profitability.
• Manage vendor relationships, including supplier selection, performance evaluation, contract negotiations, and business reviews.
• Analyze bakery industry trends, consumer insights, and competitive activity to identify growth opportunities and enhance category performance.
• Oversee Fresh Bakery promotional programs, subsidy spending, and related budgets to maximize return on investment and support sales objectives.
• Provide strategic merchandising recommendations to stores and cooperative members that improve execution, product presentation, and customer engagement.
• Partner with replenishment and supply chain teams to maintain appropriate inventory levels, service levels, and product availability.
• Coordinate and actively participate in Fresh Bakery Committee meetings, including development of agendas, presentations, and business updates.
• Maintain strong communication and collaboration with cooperative members, retail operations teams, and Fresh Bakery leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Analytics

Financial acumen

Merchandising knowledge

Procurement principles

Communication skills

AI analytics tools

SAP experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, food marketing, finance, or related field

Tools

SAP

Job description

Wakefern Food Corp. is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States and supports its co-operative members' retail operations, trading under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, and Morton Williams banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Employing an innovative approach to wholesale business services, Wakefern focuses on helping the independent retailer compete in a big business world. Providing the tools entrepreneurs need to stay a step ahead of the competition, Wakefern’s co-operative members benefit from the company’s extensive portfolio of services, including innovative technology, private label development, and best-in-class procurement practices.

About You

Summary

The Fresh Bakery Procurement Manager is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the Fresh Bakery Procurement team. This role oversees critical business areas impacting ShopRite and affiliated banners, including product sourcing, assortment strategy, merchandising support, pricing, category performance, product availability, and vendor partnerships. The Procurement Manager directs the Category Management team, ensuring expert knowledge of assigned bakery categories and alignment with Wakefern’s strategic objectives. Responsibilities include vendor relationship management, cost negotiation, commodity and market analysis, sales and margin optimization, and the development of innovative programs that support growth, profitability, and member satisfaction. This position serves as a strategic business partner to cooperative members, suppliers, and cross-functional teams while driving operational excellence across the Fresh Bakery division.

Core Functions

• Lead and manage the Fresh Bakery Procurement team to achieve budgeted sales, gross profit, inventory, and category performance goals across all zones and banners.
• Direct the training, development, coaching, and performance management of Fresh Bakery Procurement associates.
• Develop and execute strategic sourcing, pricing, promotional, and assortment strategies to drive sales growth, market share, and profitability.
• Manage vendor relationships, including supplier selection, performance evaluation, contract negotiations, and business reviews.
• Analyze bakery industry trends, consumer insights, and competitive activity to identify growth opportunities and enhance category performance.
• Oversee Fresh Bakery promotional programs, subsidy spending, and related budgets to maximize return on investment and support sales objectives.
• Provide strategic merchandising recommendations to stores and cooperative members that improve execution, product presentation, and customer engagement.
• Partner with replenishment and supply chain teams to maintain appropriate inventory levels, service levels, and product availability.
• Coordinate and actively participate in Fresh Bakery Committee meetings, including development of agendas, presentations, and business updates.
• Maintain strong communication and collaboration with cooperative members, retail operations teams, and Fresh Bakery leadership.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Own Brands, Vendor Management Office, Corporate Sales & Marketing, Sustainability, and Supply Chain on key initiatives.
• Monitor and manage category financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, sales analysis, margin optimization, and expense management.
• Utilize AI-enabled tools and advanced analytics to identify consumer trends, improve demand forecasting, optimize assortment decisions, evaluate pricing opportunities, and generate procurement insights that support strategic decision-making while adhering to company responsible AI guidelines.
• Support innovation initiatives by identifying emerging bakery products, supplier capabilities, and market opportunities that enhance the cooperative's competitive position
• Partners QA and Compliance to ensure the accurate labeling of products at retail, including allergens and food safety standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, Food Marketing, Finance, or a related field
• Minimum of three years of procurement, category management, merchandising, or related fresh food experience, with bakery or perishable category experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to effectively manage and develop associates.
• Strong negotiation, influencing, and relationship management skills.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to leverage data to drive decisions.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, margin management, and business analysis.
• Thorough understanding of retail merchandising, category management, and promotional planning processes.
• Knowledge of procurement principles, supplier management, and inventory planning.
• Working knowledge of Wakefern systems and applications; SAP experience preferred.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong customer service orientation and commitment to supporting cooperative member success.
• Experience utilizing AI-driven tools, reporting platforms, and data analytics solutions to improve business performance is preferred.
• Working knowledge of product yields and methods of baking

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

• Ability to sit/stand in front of a computer for long periods of time
• Ability to participate in retail store visits
• Ability to travel as required
• Ability to adhere to the company’s four day a week in office work requirement

Core Competencies

• Communicate Effectively: Share thoughts, ideas and information in an organized, clear and precise and persuasive manner (written and oral communication).
• Drive or Results: Understands how the role impacts the organization’s strategic objectives.
• Embrace Change: Adapts to new environment, jobs, technologies and processes.
• Develop You: Identifies opportunities for career development.
• Build Relationships: Works as part of a team to achieve company goals.
• Stay Competitive: Shows passion and enthusiasm for their work.
• Think Strategically: Create a compelling vision, develop a strategy and empower others to achieve it.
• Influence Others: The ability to effectively collaborate, inspire, persuade and align others.
• Drive Organizational Change: Create the vision and drive the momentum for change.
• Talent Planning: Build organizational and associate capability to achieve business goals.
• Take Accountability: Drive a culture of ownership throughout the organization.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $100,000-$150,000 annually. Placement in the range depends on several factors, including experience, skills, education, geography, and budget considerations.

Wakefern is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, well-being, and professional development of our Associates. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with company match, paid time off, holidays, and parental leave. Associates also enjoy access to wellness and family support programs, fitness reimbursement, educational and training opportunities through our corporate university, and a collaborative, team-oriented work environment. Many of these benefits are fully or partially funded by the company, with some subject to eligibility requirements.

About The Work

This job description is intended to set forth the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of the work performed by associates for this position.It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates to do this job. Associates may be assigned additional responsibilities as necessary. The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and to require associates to perform other tasks as circumstances or conditions of its business, competitive considerations or the work environment changes.This document describes the position currently available and is not an employment contract.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. If requested, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The position covered by this Job Description is expressly declared to be “at will,” meaning Wakefern has the right to terminate the incumbent’s employment at any time, with or without cause. Any written or oral promises or representations to the contrary are expressly disavowed and should not be relied upon by any associate. Any change to this “at will” employment status must be in writing and signed by the Vice President of Human Resource.