North American Associate Category Manager

Position Summary:

The North American Associate Category Manager works with national vendors to drive operational excellence and manages, develops, and implements go-to market activities to support division sales and marketing strategy. Responsible for regional vendor management and product lifecycle management of the region and division-specific vendors and product portfolio ensuring optimal product mix focused on defined customer needs, operational efficiency, and financial goals as well as product discontinuation/deletions. Collaborates with key stakeholders on the national category team, merchandising teams, and vendors to execute strategies to achieve sales, margin, and brand goals. Supports go-to-market product and vendor strategy execution informed by Category Management plans, knowledge of current trends, internal and external category data, and feedback from engaged relationships with GFS regional merchandising and division marketing teams.

What you will do:

Product

• Acts as primary category contact for internal shareholders and external vendor community

• Acts as a key product specification resource, including product certification and defining key attributes

• Works with the Quality Assurance Team and vendors on resolution to product quality issues

• Responsible for supporting all segments of the business

Regional Vendor Ownership

• Responsible for Vendor Ownership and product lifecycle management of the regional products, including the selection of new products (both products and product slotting locations), ensuring optimum product mix focused on defined customer needs, operational efficiency, and financial goals as well as product discontinuation/deletions.

• Collaborates with Strategic Category Management to balance the appropriate product mix between regional and enterprise product portfolio.

• Manages regional vendor performance

• Executes vendor business reviews

Supplier Operational Excellence

• Supports Supply Chain with vendor escalation on mid- to long-term vendor service level improvement and plans to ensure product availability to meet customer needs

• Responsible for developing alternative supply solutions to support customer needs

• Works with other departments (Education segment, Stores, etc ) to support Inventory Planning - I.e. back to school, seasonal products, etc)

• Supports the creation of product content/attributes working with vendors and marketing communications

Supplier Execution

• Responsible for working with vendors on Food show participation and activity planning

• Assists in escalation process with Vendor Receivables, Category Support and Divisions on vendor dispute resolution

• Works with vendors on driving continuous improvement of VIP Scorecard metrics

Merchandising

• Collaborates with the Divisional Merchandising Teams on sales facing strategy execution

Performs other duties as assigned.

When you will work:

• Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm.

• Hybrid Work Schedule: 4 days in office, 1 day from home.

What you'll bring to the table:

• Three or more years previous experience in brand, product or category management.

• Bachelor Degree in Sales, Marketing, or other related field is preferred.

• Leverages business and management principles to drive strategic planning, foster creativity, and generate innovative ideas.

• Utilizes logic, data analysis, and critical thinking to identify complex problems, evaluate options, and implement effective solutions. Proficient in using analytics tools (e.g., Excel, Access) to provide insights and support decision-making.

• Demonstrates exceptional active listening, verbal, and written communication skills to effectively present findings, share strategies, and collaborate with teams.

• Possesses strong organizational and time-management skills to manage multiple projects, create and follow processes, and deliver results on time and within budget.

• Applies knowledge of marketing, product merchandising, and customer service principles to meet customer needs and ensure satisfaction.

Gordon Food Service values our customers and understands that their success is largely dependent upon their workforce. To demonstrate our commitment to our partnership, we will require any candidate who works for a Gordon Food Service customer to provide a letter of support from their management if they are selected for the interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity is a matter of policy at Gordon Food Service, Inc. and we are committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please submit your request to talent@gfs.com and use the words "Accommodation Request" in your subject line.

All Gordon Food Service locations are tobacco-free.

Gordon Food Service is a drug-free workplace and conducts pre-employment drug tests.