Category Manager

Service Inspired Restaurants•Burlington, ON

2d•CA$80,000 - CA$89,800•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Category Manager you will be responsible for managing product assortment and product specifications in assigned categories, identifying and addressing opportunities within the business and the market, to maximize opportunities. You will maintain vendor pricing agreements and pricing compliance, and work closely with culinary leads to drive brand identity models. You will manage vendors and distribution sources to ensure optimum relationships exist to support the procurement and logistic functions, and establish and enforce product quality and service levels for all restaurants. You will keep current with corporate objectives and assist the purchasing team to ensure goals are met, and effectively communicate the latest programs to culinary teams and operations leaders. You will work with culinary leads on the sourcing of new items, and delisting decisions, and manage the renewal of current and new vendor contracts programs and agreements. You will work collaboratively with all departments across the organization, and participate and assist in the planning, execution, and delivery of annual category reviews. You will also attend tradeshows and conferences to identify new vendors/products and market trends. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

A minimum of three years of experience in a related role, restaurant operations, and food service is an asset.
Comfortable working in an agile environment.
Strong negotiation, organizational, decision-making, and presentation skills.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Excellent organization, diligence, and time management skills with the ability to multi-task.
A valid driver’s license in good standing with access to a vehicle is required as there may be some occasional travel to various restaurant, trade show, or vendor locations.
Analytical thinker, successful in developing and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
Ability to foster strong relationships with vendors, and internal departments.
Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Must be able to create reports and spreadsheets, and export and manipulate data.
Possess five values that define our people: Hospitality, Authenticity, Quality, Fun, Courage.

Responsibilities

Manages product assortment and product specifications in assigned categories, identifies and addresses opportunities within the business and the market, to maximize opportunities.
Maintains vendor pricing agreements and pricing compliance.
Works closely with culinary leads to drive brand identity models.
Manages vendors and distribution sources to ensure optimum relationships exist to support the procurement and logistic functions.
Establishes and enforces product quality and service levels for all restaurants.
Keeps current with corporate objectives and assists the purchasing team to ensure goals are met.
Effectively communicates the latest programs to culinary teams and operations leaders.
Works with culinary leads on the sourcing of new items, and delisting decisions.
Manages the renewal of current and new vendor contracts programs and agreements.
Works collaboratively with all departments across the organization.
Participates and assists in the planning, execution, and delivery of annual category reviews.
Attend tradeshows and conferences to identify new vendors/products and market trends.
Performs other duties as assigned.