Director of Category Management

ABOUT ROLAND FOODS

Roland Foods, LLC, based in New York City, is an importer and distributor of high-quality specialty food products from more than 60 countries. Founded in Paris in 1934 and established in the U.S. in 1939, the Company provides customers with exceptional specialty foods, primarily offered under the Roland brand. The company has a national presence in the foodservice, retail, and industrial channels as well as international sales in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Roland Foods' dedication to providing quality and consistency has made it a leader among food importers and suppliers. The Roland brand is synonymous with quality and authenticity for the consumer and chef alike.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Director of Category Management leads one of the most critical teams at Roland Foods. The Category Management group manages the company's extensive co-manufacturer base, which consists of over 200 suppliers across 40 countries. The team is charged with optimizing for product cost, quality, and availability of Roland Foods' portfolio of over 1,000 items across a variety of categories and cuisines. Roland Foods has an industry-leading supplier network built over many decades, and the Director will be charged with maintaining these key relationships and establishing new partnerships to continually expand the supply base. The Category Management team works very cross-functionally, especially in supporting the Sales team by partnering with Roland Foods' co-manufacturers to develop customer solutions. The Director will have four direct reports of Category Managers who are supported by a team of four Category Sourcing Analysts.

As a response to the pandemic, Roland Foods office employees have transitioned to a hybrid working schedule, requiring employees to report in-person Tuesday through Thursday, with the option to telework on Monday and Friday each week. Due to the collaborative, cross-functional nature of the organization, employees at the NY and NJ offices are required to work in-person for the abovementioned days, outside of any People & Culture-approved disability accommodation request.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead a team of Category Managers and Sourcing Analysts providing guidance, structure, coaching, and support to drive performance and foster a culture of excellence
• Establish the strategic roadmap for the category management function, including clear goals and KPIs, monitoring progress and adjusting strategies as needed
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and vendors, negotiating favorable terms and agreements to optimize cost, quality, and availability of products within categories. Deploy the right techniques to motivate suppliers to perform their best for Roland Foods
• Create or enhance category management's operational processes, including but not limited to its sourcing process, new supplier or product onboarding process and supplier performance management processes
• Manage product categories as the subject matter expert by conducting proactive category reviews and analyses, providing insights and recommendations to Sales and Strategy teams to improve category performance
• Analyze market trends, competitor activities, and customer behavior to identify opportunities and threats within each category
• Make assortment recommendations and decisions that ensure we are positioned effectively to meet the needs of our customer base while maximizing operational efficiency
• Establish Executive-level category management KPIs, such as product cost savings targets or supplier expansion targets; track and report out on KPIs to Executive Leadership
• Collaborate with the Sales team on customer bids and opportunities, problem solving with both Sales and Roland Foods' suppliers to identify winning customer solutions
• Support other cross-functional teams, such as Supply & Demand Planning, Revenue Management and Foods Safety & Quality Assurance, to ensure supplier performance enables them to meet their objectives
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the category management function
• Develop the team's abilities in the core skills needed for their success: negotiating, problem-solving, analytical and communication skills

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Required

• 7-10 years of Procurement or Category Management experience; experience in supply development a bonus
• Leadership experience with a track record of building and leading high-performing teams
• Ability to build and maintain effective structure and processes to guide the team's daily work
• Ability to understand nuance and detail without losing sight of the "big picture" and stay focused on operational objectives
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, analyze trends, and develop actionable insights and recommendations
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, organizational skills, ability to multi-task and prioritize
• Excellent communicator with proactive sense of ownership of the responsibilities of the role
• Intermediate/advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficient in Power Point, Outlook, etc.
• Ability to create executive level presentations

Preferred

• Degree in Business or other related field
• Experience with business intelligence software (Tableau, PowerBI, etc.) a plus
• Experience in CPG or Food & Beverage is a plus

SALARY RANGE

Roland Foods hires exceptional people to perform a wide variety of important functions that contribute to the success of the Company. One of the ways Roland Foods does that is through a competitive compensation package. The base salary for this role will be $150,000 - $170,000.

This role is bonus eligible.

Based on your qualifications, previous experience, and transferrable skills, the Company will determine at its sole discretion the salary offered.

Founded by immigrants, Roland Foods knows that diversity is the spice of life. We believe in the power of food to open minds, spark adventure, and bring diverse people together. All are welcome at our table! We know the transformative value of food in individual lives and communities. Because of this, we insist on obtaining the highest-quality ingredients and talent!

Roland Foods is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Roland Foods considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Roland Foods is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at

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Pay: $150,000.00 - $170,000.00 per year