Strategic Category & Sourcing Manager (Food Wholesaler)

Eastridge Workforce Solutions; Gardena (CA); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) + match

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Eastridge Workforce Solutions is seeking a Manager, Strategic Category & Sourcing in Gardena, CA. You will lead a team of five buyers (3 Senior, 2 Associate) and own high-impact categories, guiding negotiations and innovation priorities to drive customer service, growth, margin, and working capital.

You will influence Private Label and National Brand initiatives, develop talent, and report to the Sr. Inventory Planning & Procurement Manager.

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years in procurement, sourcing, category management, supplier management, or food buying.
• 3+ years leading people or major programs.
• 3+ years in domestic food industry strategic sourcing and category management.
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, food science, finance, or related field.
• Strong negotiation and supplier improvement track record with measurable outcomes.
• Excellent commercial judgment and executive-ready recommendations.
• Proven cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder influence; proficient in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Senior and Associate Buyers through coaching and exposure to negotiations and supplier management.
• Personally own strategic categories, key suppliers, negotiations, and commercialization initiatives.
• Lead category reviews using spend, demand, market, supplier, margin, and inventory data to identify opportunities and risks.
• Lead competitive sourcing events, business cases, contract negotiations, and executive recommendations.
• Establish supplier governance with performance reviews, scorecards, and escalation protocols with Procurement.
• Own consolidated sourcing and category pipeline, setting annual/quarterly objectives balancing value, customer need, and risk.
• Partner with Finance to quantify savings, margin, total cost, and working-capital impact.
• Drive cross-functional execution across sourcing, innovation, quality, marketing, inventory, and sales.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

People leadership

Category management

Negotiations

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain or related field

Tools

ERP

BI

Workflow tools

Job description

SEARCH JOB POSTINGS

Created/Revised Date: October 2, 2026

Anticipated Closing Date: November 2, 2026

Job Title: Manager, Strategic Category & Sourcing

Location: Gardena, CA | Hybrid (2–3 days on-site)

Salary Pay Range and Other Compensation

• The salary range for this position is expected to be between $135,000.00 – $158,000.00 per year, depending on geographic location, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
• This position is also eligible for a 10% bonus based on performance and subject to the terms of the Company's applicable plans.
• Employment Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

About the Role

Join a leading food distribution company as the Manager of Strategic Category & Sourcing, where you'll lead a team of five buyers (3 Senior Buyers, 2 Associate Buyers) while personally owning high-impact categories, complex negotiations, and innovation priorities. In this player/coach role, reporting to the Sr. Inventory Planning & Procurement Manager, you'll set sourcing strategy and ensure buying decisions drive customer service, growth, margin, quality, and working capital.

This is a highly visible leadership role with direct influence on Private Label and National Brand initiatives, executive-level recommendations, and the development of the next generation of buying talent.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Senior and Associate Buyers through structured coaching, progressive category ownership, and exposure to negotiations, supplier management, and commercialization.
• Personally own selected strategic categories, critical suppliers, complex negotiations, and priority commercialization initiatives.
• Lead category reviews using spend, demand, market, supplier, margin, and inventory data to identify sourcing opportunities, portfolio gaps, cost reductions, and commercial risks.
• Lead major competitive sourcing events, business cases, contract negotiations, and executive recommendations.
• Establish supplier governance for strategic suppliers, including performance and business reviews, scorecards, corrective actions, and escalation protocols, in partnership with Procurement.
• Own the consolidated sourcing and category pipeline, setting category strategies and annual/quarterly objectives that balance strategic value, customer need, capacity, timing, and risk.
• Partner with Finance and business leaders to quantify savings, margin, total cost, and working-capital impact.
• Drive cross-functional execution across sourcing, innovation, quality, marketing, inventory, and sales, ensuring initiatives have clear owners, business cases, specifications, and launch gates, and removing roadblocks with suppliers and co-manufacturers.

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, supplier management, food buying, or commercialization, including 3+ years leading people or major programs.
• 3+ years of focused strategic sourcing and category management experience within the domestic food industry.
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, food science, finance, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success in negotiations, supplier improvement, commercialization, and delivering measurable cost or margin outcomes.
• Strong commercial judgment, analytical problem-solving, and the ability to deliver clear, executive-ready recommendations.
• Proven cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder influence skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Preferred

• Experience in Center of Plate Proteins.
• Strong knowledge of food distribution, private label, co-manufacturing, commodities, and inventory management.
• Advanced degree or relevant professional certification.
• Experience with ERP, BI, and workflow tools.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) + match
• Paid Time Off

Disclaimer

The compensation and benefits information in this posting represent a good faith and reasonable estimate of what it might pay for this position. This information may be modified at any time, subject to applicable law.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Eastridge Workforce Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity , and all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity , gender e xpression, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Eastridge Workforce Solutions also prohibits harassment or retaliation of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is our policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Massachusetts Candidates:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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Eastridge's Pre-Use Notice of Collection and Automated Decision-Making Technologies : https://www.eastridge.com/data-collection-notice .

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