Category Manager

The role

The Category Buyer - US plays a pivotal role in providing insight and guidance to our operations teams. You will be tasked with finding consolidation and savings opportunities for our restaurants and hotels. Our purchasing department is a team of 9, and most of your responsibilities will lie in supporting our US operations. As our Category Buyer for the US, you will be the go-to person for cost price analysis, identifying trends and providing insights, which will assist in formulating future plans. We are looking for a detail oriented, confident, and enthusiastic individual to grow with our team. In order to be successful in this role, you will need to be a data driven person that enjoys taking on new challenges.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Management:

• Identify and evaluate potential suppliers, negotiate contracts, and establish long-term relationships to secure the best price and quality.
• Manage vendors and distribution sources to ensure optimum relationships exist to support the procurement and logistic functions for our operations teams.
• Attend tradeshows, conferences and conduct plant tours to identify new vendors/products and market trends.
• Work with vendors to identify root causes of any supply or quality issues and implement corrective action plans.

Sourcing:

• Work closely with our development team to understand ingredient needs and assist in menu planning and development.
• Proactively identify potential and alternate items to support our business needs.

Cost Analysis:

• Analyze market trends, pricing fluctuations, and product availability to make informed purchasing decisions.
• Issue RFPs and RFQs for major categories to identify opportunities.

Skills and Experience

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the below:

• Proven experience as a buyer or purchasing manager, in the food service, restaurant or hotel industry. Knowledge of US foodservice products and manufacturers is essential.
• Knowledge of food safety standards and quality control processes.
• Ability to analyze data and make informed purchasing decisions, including experience in using BI tools.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in a multitasking environment.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present information to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to build relationships with franchise operators.
• Impeccable negotiation and decision-making skills on top of good written and verbal communication skills.

What we offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Discounts at our hotels, restaurants, and resorts.
• Flexible hybrid work environment.
• Supportive and diverse purchasing team that encourages your professional growth and development.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $97,406.00 - $103,431.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift

Experience:

• Category management: 1 year (Preferred)
• Procurement: 1 year (Preferred)
• Purchasing: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: On the road

Salary : $97,406 - $103,431