Senior Category Buyer- Meat | Stone Mountain, GA | $90K

Vaco by Highspring; Stone Mountain (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Senior Category Buyer - Meat to lead sourcing for fresh and frozen proteins, including beef, pork, poultry, and seafood. You will drive supplier negotiations, analyze commodity markets, and shape assortment, margin, and inventory strategies.

The role reports to the Director of Procurement; you will partner with Operations, Distribution, and Store Leadership to ensure product availability and cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in meat/protein procurement or category management.
• Knowledge of fresh and frozen beef, pork, poultry, and seafood markets.
• Proven supplier negotiation and vendor-management experience.
• Experience with assortment, inventory, demand planning, and margin management.
• Strong analytical and business acumen.

Responsibilities

• Manage strategic relationships with meat and protein suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, rebates, allowances, and contract terms.
• Monitor commodity markets, supply trends, and pricing fluctuations.
• Manage product assortment and recommend category changes.
• Analyze sales, profitability, cost per pound, inventory turns, and shrink.
• Align purchasing with demand forecasts and inventory requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins and product availability.
• Support promotional and seasonal programs.
• Address supplier quality and performance issues.
• Ensure compliance with USDA, FDA, labeling, and traceability requirements.
• Collaborate with Operations, Distribution, and Store Leadership.

Skills

Meat procurement

Supplier negotiation

Category management

Analytical skills

Job description

• Meat/Protein procurement or category buying experience
• Fresh/frozen meat experience - Beef, Pork, Poultry, and/or Seafood
• Commodity pricing/market knowledge

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Category Buyer - Meat to lead strategic sourcing, purchasing, pricing, supplier management, and category strategy for fresh and frozen proteins, including beef, pork, poultry, and seafood.

This senior-level individual contributor will report to the Director of Procurement and focus on supplier negotiations, commodity market analysis, assortment, margins, inventory, and product availability. PO administration is handled by a separate team.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage strategic relationships with meat and protein suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, rebates, allowances, and contract terms.
• Monitor commodity markets, supply trends, and pricing fluctuations.
• Manage product assortment and recommend category changes.
• Analyze sales, profitability, cost per pound, inventory turns, and shrink.
• Align purchasing with demand forecasts and inventory requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins and product availability.
• Support promotional and seasonal programs.
• Address supplier quality and performance issues.
• Ensure compliance with USDA, FDA, labeling, and traceability requirements.
• Collaborate with Operations, Distribution, and Store Leadership.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in meat/protein procurement or category management.
• Knowledge of fresh and frozen beef, pork, poultry, and/or seafood markets.
• Proven supplier negotiation and vendor-management experience.
• Experience working with commodity-driven pricing and fluctuating costs.
• Strong analytical and business acumen.
• Experience with assortment, inventory, demand planning, and margin management.
• Ability