Category Manager

• Define a best-in-class packaged food and beverage assortment, balancing core volume drivers with health-forward innovations and seasonal demand spikes.
• Own full P&L accountability for your categories, including price architecture, vendor income, promotional ROI, and inventory productivity.
• Translate syndicated data, POS trends, and supply-chain analytics into region-specific action plans that boost sales velocity and reduce spoilage.
• Negotiate multi-year supply programs that lock in competitive costs, favorable terms, and industry-leading fill rates with domestic and global suppliers.
• Build and execute holiday and event calendars (e.g., summer beverage launches, back-to-school pantry programs) to ensure the right mix reaches each warehouse on time.
• Partner with marketing and store operations on eye-level placement, secondary displays, and impulse-zone merchandising.
• Leverage advanced Excel models to forecast demand, flag risks, and brief senior leadership on upside opportunities.
• Ensure every SKU complies with food-safety, labeling, and procurement standards.
• Serve as the resident food and beverage expert, mentoring cross-functional peers and junior analysts.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Marketing, or related field.
• 7+ years of category management, purchasing, or merchandising experience within food-service, grocery, or CPG channels; beverage or pantry experience highly valued.
• Proven record of supplier negotiation that lifts gross margin and lowers total landed cost.
•  Advanced Excel abilities (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, scenario modeling); ERP familiarity with SAP or Oracle preferred.
• Confident communicator who can present to executives and collaborate with warehouse and store teams alike.

• High visibility: Own a top-selling category in a multibillion-dollar enterprise.
• Innovation runway: Introduce trend-setting products and analytics tools that redefine go-to-market strategy.
• Career springboard: Top performers have a clear path to senior merchandising leadership.
• Hybrid flexibility: Collaborate in person at the Chicago-area HQ while working remotely two days each week for work-life balance.

Blue Signal is an award-winning, executive search firm specializing in various specialties. Our recruiters have a proven track record of placing top-tier talent across industry verticals, with deep expertise in numerous professional services. Learn more at bit.ly/46Gs4yS