Produce Category Manager

Sysco•Ocoee, FL

About The Position

The Produce Category Manager is responsible for driving profitable produce-category sales growth within a region. The role collaborates across Sales, Supply Chain, Revenue Management, Market, Corporate, and Specialty teams. As a category expert, the manager provides training, product information, regulatory guidance, and market-cost guidance to internal and external customers in support of the produce category.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential job functions.
At least 3 years of management or professional experience.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage and implement innovative strategies to maximize sales and gross profit potential while driving customer loyalty and MA engagement.
Ability to build high-performing teams, enable best-practice sharing, and support a culture of best practices.
Ability to motivate high-performing teams.
Ability to manage conflict and reach quick resolutions using facts and dialogue.
Ability to work cross-functionally and build relationships across the organization and enterprise.
Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.
Collaborative change leadership and ability to use multiple influencing styles to drive change.
Analytical thinking and ability to draw sound business conclusions from a strong fact base.
Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
At least 5 years of management or professional experience.
Significant produce-industry experience.
Sales, merchandising, and/or operations experience in a retail, wholesale, or distribution environment.
Strong Excel skills.

Responsibilities

Align with SMS Produce teams to execute category strategies.
Identify category development opportunities and coordinate with sales leaders, specialists, and consultants to propose new business.
Ensure expected compliance and appropriate support of SMS Produce and Freshpoint.
Analyze data and market insights to understand consumer needs and wants.
Research competitors and recommend appropriate pricing.
Manage site-specific market-cost decisions weekly.
Work with the Regional Revenue Management Director and Regional VP of Merchandising to use contract programs and resources for customer-specific pricing for key regional customers.
Provide field feedback on strategies and advise on marketing materials to improve sales.
Provide the planning team with forecasts for product demand trends.
Coordinate new-customer onboarding activities.
Address the needs and concerns of key CMU/LCC contacts within the region.
Recommend product assortments and SKU rationalization aligned with regional demand.
Ensure product availability and design exit strategies for unsuccessful products.
Support Sales Consultants through business reviews, customer insight encounters, targeted training, and education.
Schedule and manage category sales training for Sales Consultants.
Communicate timely information to the sales force about market conditions, product quality and availability, new items, and applications.
Develop and monitor SOPs to ensure pick locations are checked daily.
Collaborate with Operations and Food Safety teams on product quality and quality control.
Work with QA and Operations to generate PDNs and ensure their accuracy, timely completion, and submission.
Ensure resulting claims are tracked and settled appropriately.
Work with inventory control to manage expiration dating through SWMS reports and mitigate expense and shrink.
Work with Quality Assurance leads in conjunction with Operations and Transportation Management.
Maintain accountability for thorough inspection of all inbound product.
Collaborate with QA and Product Support Advisors to ensure the quality and integrity of inbound and outbound Category 11 products.
Manage market adherence to GAP/GMP compliance.