Protein Category Lead: Growth & Strategy

Holly Poultry, Inc.; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

State Street Poultry & Provisions, a Holly Poultry company, is hiring a Category Manager - Protein in the Baltimore region to lead protein category strategy across beef, poultry, pork, seafood, and other proteins. You will partner with Sales to drive growth, manage costs, and optimize product mix while maintaining supplier performance and profitability.

The role requires 3+ years in purchasing or category management in food distribution, strong negotiation, and Excel proficiency.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in purchasing, category management, merchandising, sales, or procurement, preferably within food distribution or the protein industry.
• Strong knowledge of protein products, suppliers, pricing, and market dynamics.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate effectively with suppliers.
• Strong analytical and financial skills, including the ability to understand cost, margin, pricing, and profitability.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and business reporting tools.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across Sales, Operations, Finance, Purchasing, and senior leadership.
• Experience with foodservice distribution is required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the overall protein category strategy for the State Street Division, with a focus on sales growth, profitability, customer retention, and market competitiveness.
• Partner closely with the Sales team, including participating in regular ride-alongs, customer visits, and sales meetings to understand customer needs, identify opportunities, and support profitable growth.
• Provide pricing guidance and recommendations to the Sales team based on market conditions, product costs, competitive positioning, customer requirements, and desired gross profit.
• Partner with Sales to identify opportunities to build and improve customer GP through pricing, product mix, cost management, value-added products, and strategic selling.
• Develop and maintain accurate category forecasts using historical sales, seasonality, market trends, customer demand, commodity conditions, and supplier information.
• Build and maintain strong, strategic relationships with vendors and suppliers to improve pricing, service, quality, availability, and overall supplier performance.
• Lead and support vendor negotiations to secure competitive costs, favorable terms, rebates, promotions, freight arrangements, and other programs that improve profitability.
• Monitor commodity markets, industry trends, supply conditions, and competitive activity and proactively communicate relevant changes and opportunities to Sales and leadership.
• Analyze sales, purchasing, margin, inventory, and product movement data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for growth and improved profitability.
• Identify opportunities for new products, alternative sources, substitutions, and product assortment changes that improve customer value, margins, and product availability.
• Work with vendors and internal teams to maintain appropriate inventory levels and minimize out-of-stocks, excess inventory, product loss, and obsolete inventory.
• Collaborate with Sales and Operations to develop customer-specific protein strategies that balance customer needs, competitive pricing, product availability, and company profitability.
• Support the Sales team with product knowledge, market intelligence, pricing trends, vendor updates, and category expertise.
• Coordinate promotions, special buys, vendor programs, and other opportunities that support sales growth and gross profit improvement.
• Monitor vendor performance and address issues related to quality, delivery, fill rates, pricing, service, and product consistency.
• Maintain accurate product, cost, pricing, specification, and supplier information within company systems.
• Partner with Finance to monitor category and customer-level gross profit, pricing performance, and overall financial results.
• Regularly communicate category performance, forecasts, market conditions, supplier developments, opportunities, and challenges to State Street leadership.
• Serve as the subject-matter expert for the protein category, providing strategic direction and actionable recommendations to Sales, Operations, and leadership.

Skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Communication

Collaboration

Strategic thinking

Financial acumen

Problem solving

Customer focus

Cross-functional teamwork

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Business reporting tools

Job description

State Street Poultry & Provisions, a Holly Poultry company, is hiring a Category Manager - Protein in the Baltimore region to lead protein category strategy across beef, poultry, pork, seafood, and other proteins. You will partner with Sales to drive growth, manage costs, and optimize product mix while maintaining supplier performance and profitability.

The role requires 3+ years in purchasing or category management in food distribution, strong negotiation, and Excel proficiency.