Bashas' Director of Meat & Seafood Category Purchasing - Chandler, AZ

Bashas'•Chandler, AZ

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Bashas’ is a family-owned, regional grocer that operates in Arizona and New Mexico, serving four Tribal Nations under five well-known brands. Founded in 1932, Bashas’ has a rich history of serving Arizona families with quality products and great customer service. With more than 110 grocery stores, Bashas’ is one of the largest employers in the state and is committed to nourishing the communities it serves. In 2021, Bashas’ joined The Raley’s Companies, enhancing its core business through technological advancements, shared learning, leadership development, and new offerings. With more than 21,000 team members, the company is united by a higher purpose: to deliver quality offerings, exceptional service, and to do right by its people, communities, and planet. Bashas’ strives to empower customers with transparency, education, and access to fresh, affordable, and nourishing food. This role is for a proven leader in fresh protein categories who knows how to drive results in a competitive retail environment. As Director, Meat & Seafood, you will lead the strategy, performance, and execution of two of the most critical categories in grocery retail. This role blends commercial leadership, deep category expertise, and people development. You will own buying, sourcing, pricing, merchandising, and promotions for Meat and Seafood, partnering closely with Store Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing, and key suppliers to deliver sales growth, margin improvement, and an exceptional customer experience. This role requires occasional travel to store locations, supplier meetings, trade shows, and competitor tours.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
7+ years of retail grocery meat and seafood management, including buying and merchandising
5+ years of people leadership experience
Strong background in fresh protein sourcing, pricing, and supplier negotiation
Experience working with complex distribution systems and vendor networks
Strong financial, analytical, and negotiation skills
Strategic thinker with the ability to translate insights into action
Confident communicator who influences across all levels
Results-driven, customer-focused, and comfortable in a fast-paced environment
Passion for developing people and building high-performing teams

Responsibilities

Lead enterprise-wide strategy for Meat & Seafood, driving sales, margin, and market share
Own assortment planning, pricing strategy, space allocation, and merchandising execution
Direct buying and sourcing activities; negotiate costs, ad funding, and promotional programs
Build and manage strong supplier partnerships; oversee quality, service levels, and scorecards
Develop and execute promotional and advertising strategies that drive sell-through and profitability
Analyze category performance vs. budget and competitors; identify and act on opportunities
Partner cross-functionally with Store Operations, Supply Chain, Replenishment, and Marketing
Maintain strong store awareness through regular store visits and field engagement
Lead, coach, and develop a team of four (4), including Category Managers and merchandising partners.

Benefits

Competitive compensation, paid weekly
10% annual incentive eligibility
Paid vacation, sick days and holidays
401K Program, including company contributions and matching funds
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance for yourself and eligible dependents
Family leave
10% discount on groceries
Employee discounts on event/sports tickets, gym memberships, mobile phone plans, etc.
Tuition Reimbursement for qualified courses
Scholarship opportunities for continued education
Dependent Care
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program (free financial, legal, and mental health services)