Seafood Category Manager - Buyer/Purchasing

Buckhead & Newport Meat and Seafood; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading seafood distributor in California seeks a Seafood Category Manager to drive revenue and margin growth. You will manage vendor relationships, optimize pricing, and oversee logistics while fostering teamwork within the department. The ideal candidate has at least 3 years of seafood merchandising experience and strong analytical skills. This full-time role offers a hybrid work model with 4 days in the office and 2.5 days in the field.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in seafood merchandising required.
• Leadership qualities and ability to coach and supervise.
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage the seafood category through product curation.
• Responsible for seafood category purchasing.
• Collaborate with marketing and logistics to support company goals.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Exceptional organizational skills

Strong communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

Undergraduate degree in business or 3 years of relevant seafood sales/purchasing experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Access

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Seafood Category Manager - Buyer/Purchasing

Join to apply for the Seafood Category Manager - Buyer/Purchasing role at Buckhead & Newport Meat and Seafood

Overview

The Seafood Category Manager is responsible for the growth of revenue and margin in the Seafood category. The Seafood Category Manager will assist in the development and execution of strategy for each category through:

• Vendor/Supplier management – builds relationships and conducts financial negotiations with suppliers
• Product Mix – develops and manages the vendors, suppliers, and products available
• Pricing – maintains competitive and relevant pricing
• Logistics – works with logistics to optimize supplier shipping performance
• Marketing – positions products through web placement, categorization, and marketing efforts
• Reporting – makes decisions based on reporting and provides status and timelines merchandising team members
• Hybrid Role: 4 days in office / 2 - 1/2 days in field
• Schedule: Monday - Friday / 7:00am - 4:00pm

Responsibilities

• Actively manages and promotes the seafood category through product curation
• Responsible for 100% of the frozen and fresh seafood category purchasing
• Spends time in the field with sales assisting in customer penetration and opening of new business
• Delivers high-quality category strategies
• Works to foster teamwork within the department and to cultivate a team environment
• Assists in strategy development and category financial forecasting with Category Merchandisers for each category
• Provide analytics and reporting on the Top 10 suppliers
• Make recommendations to management on category improvements
• Participates in “Strategic” supplier meetings with Category Merchandisers when available and/or necessary
• Assists in providing input for marketing, communication, and promotional activities
• Assists in category management activities and projects
• Works closely with the Admin/Project Manager to set priorities, timelines, and results reporting
• Develops SOPs and training materials for merchandising
• Manages the supplier rebate table and meets with accounting to forecast
• Coordinates the Merchandising training programs for the organization
• Transfers knowledge from category management initiatives to the organization to improve the sales and profitability of the company
• Handles Customer Service/sales issues where and when appropriate
• Keep updated on all contracts and well versed on competitive programs and changes within the supply base
• Works cross-functionally with sales, marketing, logistics, IT and accounting to support company goals
• Other duties as assigned

Education

• Undergraduate degree in business or 3 years of relevant seafood sales/purchasing experience

Experience

• 3 years’ experience in SEAFOOD MERCHANDISING REQUIRED
• Leadership qualities and ability to coach and supervise
• Exceptional organization and attention to detail
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills
• Negotiation skills
• 3 years of planning and/or management experience
• Intermediate to Microsoft skills: Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project management software

Professional Skills

• Exceptional organizational skills
• Strong communication skills: written and verbal
• Independent thinker
• Attention to detail
• Excellent people skills and the ability to establish a rapport with a wide variety of people from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to write short correspondence
• Ability to speak and write English in a clear, understandable manner
• Ability to accurately follow detailed procedures and processes
• Ability to work accurately in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work with a diverse group of people
• Ability to work comfortably under pressure
• Ability to prioritize and work multiple tasks and exceeds deadlines
• Ability to work independently and with a group on various on-going projects simultaneously
• Effectively communicate with internal and external customers (management, co-workers, vendors, and customers.)
• Must be able to perform basic arithmetic calculations (e.g., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and percentage functions.)
• Ability to concentrate for extended periods of time
• Must have the ability to carry out instructions furnished in both oral and written form
• Ability to act in an ethical, honest and professional manner at all times
• Desire to work independently as well as in a team environment
• Maintain discretion with all company information regarding customers, pricing, products, and procedures

Physical Demands

• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time
• Must be able to bend, reach and stoop occasionally to reach file cabinets, boxes, etc
• Must be able to look at a computer screen for prolonged periods of time and type
• Requires the ability to read written instructions, reports and other documentation
• The employee must occasionally lift, carry and/or move up to 30 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
• The employee frequently is required to talk or hear
• The noise level in the work environment is usually light to moderate

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Marketing and Sales

Industries

• Wholesale Food and Beverage