Category Manager - Ingredients
About The Position
Nelson-Jameson is seeking a results-oriented Category Manager for a product category within their Ingredients portfolio. This role manages a diverse portfolio of products as part of food processing, overseeing products that could include brined jalapenos, dried spices, food grade salt, and various other flavor enhancing ingredients. The Category Manager will work directly with vendors and help drive profitability through strategic marketing and sales efforts. This role will play a key part in analyzing sales performance, developing pricing strategies, and collaborating across departments to ensure product success. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a talented team, build strong vendor relationships, and drive impactful marketing initiatives.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- 2+ years of experience in distribution, sales, or marketing.
- Strong knowledge of industry products and customer needs.
- Willingness & ability to travel occasionally for trade shows, training, or customer interaction.
Nice To Haves
- Post-secondary education or coursework in business, marketing, sales, or a related field.
- Experience in the food processing industry is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Manage and optimize an assigned product portfolio, researching and sourcing new vendors and products to increase sales and profitability.
- Develop strong, strategic relationships with vendors to enhance product offerings and market performance.
- Negotiate pricing and terms with vendors to ensure competitive advantage and maximize profitability.
- Establish, maintain, and communicate standard pricing, adjusting as necessary to improve margins.
- Collaborate with Purchasing to ensure proper inventory levels for the product portfolio.
- Analyze sales data to allocate resources, improve product performance, and identify trends or potential issues.
- Develop and execute marketing strategies for the product portfolio, working closely with the Marketing Department and other stakeholders.
- Measure and report on the effectiveness of marketing efforts, including ROI analysis.
- Ensure regulatory compliance by maintaining accurate quality documentation in coordination with the Regulatory Team.
- Collaborate with the Sales Team to define customer needs through site visits, samples, and trial events.
- Work with vendors to target key accounts, develop pricing programs, and encourage collaboration with sales representatives.
- Direct the duties of the Product Administrator for your assigned product line.
- Perform additional duties as needed to support business objectives.
Benefits
- Comprehensive Health Benefits with your choice of benefits to match your unique needs
- 401(k) with company match
- Competitive Compensation
- Starting Salary Range: $58,000-$73,000 annually
- Annual Discretionary Bonus
- Annual Merit Increases
- Paid time off at time of hire
- Annual allowance for company branded clothing
- Annual Wellness Stipend & other wellness programs
- Flexibility to work from home on an occasional basis
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
High school or GED
