Procurement Category Specialist

DESCRIPTION OF EMPLOYER: Founded in 1901, Feeser's, Inc. is a family owned and operated full-line foodservice distributor located in Harrisburg, PA servicing the Mid-Atlantic region.  Feeser's provides an expansive offering of dry, refrigerated, and frozen products to a diverse customer base comprised of restaurants, healthcare facilities, educational facilities, and other institutions.

WE ARE LOOKING TO ADD A CATEGORY SPECIALIST TO OUR PROCUREMENT TEAM IN HARRISBURG, PA

Category Specialist

Position Summary

The Category Specialist is responsible for purchasing, inventory management, supplier coordination, item maintenance, pricing execution, and operational support for assigned product categories. This role serves as the primary support partner to the Category Manager and is accountable for ensuring product availability, maintaining accurate item data, supporting category initiatives, and executing purchasing strategies.

The Category Specialist combines inventory replenishment responsibilities with category administration and analytics, creating a single point of accountability for category execution.

Essential Responsibilities

Inventory Management & Replenishment

• Analyze demand trends and forecast inventory requirements.
• Generate and manage purchase orders for assigned categories.
• Maintain inventory levels that support service and inventory turn objectives.
• Monitor stock levels, backorders, substitutions, and shortages.
• Coordinate inventory builds for promotions, seasonal demand, and customer programs.
• Identify excess, slow-moving, and obsolete inventory.

Supplier Management

• Maintain day-to-day supplier relationships.
• Manage routine supplier communications regarding pricing, availability, lead times, and service issues.
• Monitor suppliers fill rates and delivery performance.
• Escalate supply chain concerns to the Category Manager.
• Support supplier reviews and vendor performance initiatives.

Category Administration

• Maintain item master records, specifications, vendor information, and product attributes.
• Coordinate new item setup and discontinued item management.
• Process item conversions, pack changes, and vendor transitions.
• Ensure ERP and purchasing system data accuracy.
• Maintain category documentation and vendor records.

Pricing & Cost Management

• Process supplier cost changes.
• Execute approved pricing adjustments within established guidelines.
• Maintain pricing accuracy within ERP systems.
• Identify and report margin-impacting cost changes.
• Support promotional pricing execution.

Reporting & Analysis

• Monitor category sales, inventory, and margin performance.
• Produce reports and analyses for Category Managers.
• Track inventory turns, fill rates, and supplier performance.
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities within assigned categories.
• Support annual planning and budgeting activities.

Operational Coordination

• Coordinate with warehouse, receiving, transportation, and accounting teams.
• Resolve purchase order discrepancies and receiving issues.
• Assist with product recalls, quality concerns, and supplier service failures.
• Support implementation of category initiatives and promotional programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred
• 3-6 years of buying, procurement, or supply chain experience

Skills

• ERP system experience
• Inventory management systems
• Microsoft Excel proficiency
• Forecasting and reporting capabilities
• Strong analytical ability
• Attention to detail
• Communication and negotiation skills
• Time management and prioritization
• Problem-solving capability

Feesers Food Distributors is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.