Category Management Professional - Produce
About The Position
UniPro Foodservice is seeking a Category Management Professional – Produce to lead a substantial produce portfolio supported by independent foodservice, specialty, and retail distributors across the U.S. and beyond. This role involves hands-on market analysis, consultative guidance, and strategic execution to help distributors improve earnings and drive sales in the produce category. The position requires managing contracts, understanding product handling, problem-solving, and enhancing margins. The successful candidate will host market calls, develop exclusive branded items by working with growers and packers, and collaborate with internal teams and supplier partners. A key aspect of the role is cultivating and growing the Produce Group program through member recruitment and onboarding. Success in the first year involves becoming a trusted voice for members, establishing a collaborative market cadence, increasing program participation, and growing member returns. The role demands clear communication and effective guidance, especially during market volatility.
Requirements
- 5+ years of hands-on, produce experience in a market-facing, commercial role.
- Deep working knowledge of produce markets, regionality, and seasonality.
- Real chops in Supplier relations and program execution that move the needle.
- A high-frequency communicator's instinct - you build trust on the phone, in email, and across the table.
- An analytical brain that can turn market signals into smart action.
Nice To Haves
- Time spent in foodservice distribution, service center ops, high-velocity merchandising, buying groups, or corporate category management.
- Buying group, corporate category management, or distribution leadership with a produce and/or refrigerated products portfolio.
- A track record of running a structured market cadence (calls, recaps, alerts) that people genuinely value.
- Comfort with budgets and financial targets in a high-volume world.
Responsibilities
- Own the category and attain Member earning expectations and volume targets.
- Track results and make the numbers sing.
- Guide market changes and monitor produce opportunities in real time, layering in seasonality and transition history.
- Translate market chaos into a clear, confident buying strategy and pricing guidance.
- Host a market call that Members rely upon for seasonal transitions and smart purchasing decisions.
- Create Exclusive Branded Items by working with premier growers and packers to drive sales growth.
- Partner with Member Development, Finance, Customer Service, and Supplier-Partners to align strategy and execution.
- Cultivate and grow the overall Produce Group program via Member recruitment and onboarding.
Benefits
- The title and salary for this role will be finalized based on the selected candidate's experience, skill set, and qualifications.
- Remote considered for the right rockstar.
- This is a high-visibility national desk with tremendous reach.
- You'll work alongside senior leadership, build deep relationships with Members and Suppliers, and grow into broader market ownership and strategic responsibility over time.
- Your title and level will flex to match what you bring - we're hiring the person, not filling a slot.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
