Category Manager

• Health/Rx
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
• Supplemental life insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Paid sick time
• Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
• Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
• Holiday pay for company designated holidays

At KeHE, we’re obsessed with creating solutions, unboxing potential, and serving others – and it all starts with you. As an employee-owned distributor of natural and organic, specialty, and fresh products, we’re committed to making a positive impact and scaling our success together. With a culture that fosters development and opportunity, you’ll be embarking on a career that’s moving forward. When you join KeHE, you’re becoming part of a team that is a force for good.

The Category Manager is responsible for maintaining KeHE’s track record as the best-in-class distributor in North America of Specialty, Natural & Organic, and Fresh foods. The Category Manager is accountable for working collectively with the Supplier Development Manager, KeHE Account Managers, and Supply Chain teams to maximize sales, margin dollars, and service level efficiencies from current and new vendors. As with all positions at KeHE, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE’s Mission, Vision and Values.

• Monitor end-consumer purchasing trends and associated emerging products using both industry and informed qualitative insights based on information obtained from trade shows, industry publications, vendor meetings, market visits, etc. in order to identify and on-board relevant new products from small and/or emerging vendors.
• Manage existing vendors (and their brokers as appropriate) to ensure a continuous flow of relevant product-line extensions, and a compelling calendar of promotional programs for the vendors’ core items in order to drive year-over-year sales to KeHE’s retail customers and their end consumers.
• Work as a team player for all planning and implementation of collective projects such as: KeHE trade shows and pavilions, external trade shows (e.g. Expo West, Fancy Food), KeHE publications, webinars, and retailer programs.
• Work collegially and productively with relevant headquarter teams [e.g., supply chain (replenishment), transportation, warehousing, business analysis, finance and accounting, and sales] to achieve quick traction for new products, programs, and continuous sales growth for existing product lines.
• Enable KeHE’s account management and field sales teams by generating “industry best” product selling information/presentations. Communicate this product knowledge throughout the year via a combination of KeHE’s monthly promotional books, quarterly account manager learning sessions, twice-yearly show books, weekly account manager teleconferences and other communication vehicles used at KeHE.
• Proactively identify and seize non-traditional opportunities for KeHE to offer entirely new lines of products to its retail customers and their end consumers.
• Manage all administrative and financial aspects of assigned categories and associated vendors (e.g., Supplier agreements, service levels, aged inventory, price changes, promo books, special retailer requests, vendor issues, and related marketing deadlines throughout the year).
• Follow established company policies and procedures in achieving the above accountabilities.

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience in Category Management, or selling & sales management, within the food industry.

Qualifications / Additional Skills / Aptitude:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience working with and, as appropriate, managing a broad array of vendors, brokers, importers, and product trade associations to build and maintain successful product assortments (successful in terms of proven year over year sales increases) targeted at specific consumer segments.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate highly competitive pricing and marketing support agreements with a broad array of vendors ranging from small or emerging to large and established entities.
• Demonstrated experience and facility using syndicated purchase data and other consumption data to identify product trends and to provide fact-based justification for product selection and product promotion decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to budget and then proactively manage top line (sales), gross margin %, supply chain metrics (service level), and other program expenses for assigned product lines.
• Demonstrated success transferring product and program knowledge to (and subsequently supporting as-needed) company account managers, company sales reps, manufacturer reps, brokers or other individuals with the ability to facilitate the sale of products under your management. Need to provide examples of PowerPoint, Excel, web-seminar, and other tools used to transfer this product and program knowledge.
• Demonstrated experience and facility with Word, Excel (advanced level), and PowerPoint software.
• Willingness to travel domestically and (occasionally) internationally—frequently over weekends and involving evening events—in order to visit manufacturers, meet with KeHE retail customers and their buying staffs, meet with KeHE field sales and account management staff, and attend domestic and (occasionally) international trade shows.