VP of Procurement & Merchandising: Growth & Innovation

HAPPIER; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Happier Grocery in New York seeks a Vice President of Procurement and Merchandising to lead sourcing, category management, and product strategy. You will drive profitability, optimize supplier partnerships, and shape the portfolio with data-driven insights.

The VP will oversee end-to-end procurement and merchandising functions, focusing on cost optimization, innovation, and market responsiveness to deliver value and growth.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience in procurement, merchandising, or category management.
• Proven ability to lead Category Management and/or Buying teams.
• Strong background in supplier negotiations, sourcing strategy, and cost management.
• Demonstrated ownership of financial performance including margin and P&L.
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to translate data into business decisions.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of company-wide procurement and merchandising strategies aligned with business objectives and growth targets.
• Oversee sourcing, vendor selection, contract negotiation, and supplier performance management to ensure cost efficiency, quality, and reliability.
• Drive category management strategies, including assortment planning, pricing, lifecycle management, and promotional optimization.
• Partner cross-functionally with operations, finance, marketing, and sales to align product strategy with customer demand and market trends.
• Identify and implement opportunities for margin expansion through strategic sourcing, cost optimization, and product innovation.
• Build and maintain strong, strategic relationships with key suppliers to foster collaboration, innovation, and long-term value creation.
• Establish and monitor KPIs to evaluate supplier performance, category profitability, and merchandising effectiveness.
• Lead demand forecasting and inventory optimization efforts to ensure product availability while minimizing excess and obsolescence.
• Champion data-driven decision-making by leveraging analytics to inform purchasing, pricing, and assortment strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across procurement and merchandising processes to increase efficiency and scalability.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and ethical sourcing standards.
• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing procurement and merchandising teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
• Monitor market dynamics, competitive activity, and industry trends to proactively adjust strategies and maintain a competitive advantage.
• Support new product development and portfolio expansion initiatives in partnership with product development and marketing teams.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiations

Category management

Data analytics

Cross-functional leadership

P&L ownership

Forecasting

Strategic sourcing

Vendor management

Ethical sourcing

Team development

Communication

Job description

Happier Grocery in New York seeks a Vice President of Procurement and Merchandising to lead sourcing, category management, and product strategy. You will drive profitability, optimize supplier partnerships, and shape the portfolio with data-driven insights.

The VP will oversee end-to-end procurement and merchandising functions, focusing on cost optimization, innovation, and market responsiveness to deliver value and growth.