Senior Grocery Category Manager — Strategic Buying & Growth

Core-Mark; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Day 1 Health & Wellness Benefits

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

401K Employer Matching

Education Assistance

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Performance Food Group is seeking a dedicated Purchasing/Inventory Manager to oversee customer relations, procurement, and financial management for assigned product categories. You will coordinate buying, selling and merchandising with vendors and distributors to drive profitability and excellent in-stock performance across multiple locations.

The role interfaces with sales, marketing, accounting, warehousing, and logistics teams, demanding strong negotiation and leadership skills to optimize

Qualifications

• Required Education: High School Diploma/GED or Equivalent Experience
• Required Experience: 3-5 years Foodservice distribution and purchasing experience
• Preferred: Bachelor's in Business management, marketing or related area
• 5-7 years Foodservice distribution and purchasing management experience

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the buying, selling, and merchandising efforts between vendors and the distributor to ensure high in-stock percentages, fast inventory turns, and strong profitability.
• Interface heavily with sales, marketing, accounting, warehousing, transportation, and vendor communities.
• Purchasing & Inventory: Maintain optimal inventory levels, minimize dead or slow-moving stock, and monitor over-committed or urgent items.
• Negotiate buy brackets, inbound freight rates, cash discounts, extended terms, and earned income/bill backs.
• Ensure strict pricing accuracy, handle customer audits, and review sales-below-cost reports.
• Supervise, coach, and train teams of buyers or category analysts depending on the facility or corporate structure.
• Assist sales representatives and multi-unit account managers with product knowledge, custom solutions, and new supplier opportunities

Skills

Negotiation

Vendor relations

Purchasing

Inventory management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Bachelor's degree in Business/Marketing

Job description

Performance Food Group is seeking a dedicated Purchasing/Inventory Manager to oversee customer relations, procurement, and financial management for assigned product categories. You will coordinate buying, selling and merchandising with vendors and distributors to drive profitability and excellent in-stock performance across multiple locations.

The role interfaces with sales, marketing, accounting, warehousing, and logistics teams, demanding strong negotiation and leadership skills to optimize