Category Manager, Dairy

Brief Description

Overview:

The Category Manager will be responsible for managing the strategic and operational growth of Baldor’s dairy products. This role will be responsible for analyzing industry and consumer trends, developing strategies and overseeing pricing, promotion and product range management to maximize sales, profitability and customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities:

Establish Category Leadership & Curation:

• Develop and execute growth strategies for dairy categories to achieve sales and profitability goals.
• Stay ahead of market trends and identify opportunities for new products and cost-saving measures.
• Developing exit strategies for unsuccessful products.
• Maintain an ongoing category review process, including performance metrics and promotional planning.
  
  

Supplier Management:

Maintain an open channel of communication with the suppliers regarding but not limited to:

• Foster trust relationships with vendors to achieve better pricing and quality of services.
• Coordinate new meetings/visits.
• Responsible for new item intake and code creation within system.
• Draft present proposed buy plans.
  
  

Product Knowledge:

Serve as internal subject matter expert to assigned products:

• Attend industry shows as needed.
• Lead product sampling and tasting sessions.
• Conduct competitive landscape analysis on pricing and offerings.
• Liaise with marketing team to determine promotional activities of product category.
  
  

Strategy Management Analytics:

• Develop strategic and tactical plans that meet product sales and profit objectives.
• Collaborate with the sales force to identify growth opportunities within each sales region for assigned products.
• Implement a Total Cost of Ownership approach to cost optimization and process improvement.
• Manage pricing for all items (update costs, update prices, update margins on a monthly basis).
• Manage inventory level with supply chain.
• Collaborate with Baldor’s business partner(s) teams by sharing marketplace and category insights.
• Support sales team training and development around dairy products.
  
  

Collaboration & Problem-Solving:

• Partner with Supply Chain, Operations, and Finance teams to ensure smooth execution of category strategies.
• Address challenges with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.
  
  

Requirements:

• Proven expertise in eggs, cheese, liquid dairy categories.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and analytical skills.
• Solid knowledge of category management, marketing and sales principles.
• Knowledge of PACA laws, and FSMA regulations.
  
  

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or 3–5 years of equivalent experience in F&B Distribution, Production, or a related field.
• Experience managing foreign suppliers, including compliance with FSMA requirements.
  
  

Preferred Skills and Attributes:

• Proven track record of delivering cost savings through strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, and supplier management within the dairy category.
• Experience in market/supplier analysis and rapid commodity expertise development.
• Inspiring leader with the ability to influence decisions through data and collaboration.
• Results-oriented and driven to meet bold targets.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Problem-solver who uses data to develop innovative solutions.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with urgency, ownership, and integrity.
• Collaborative team player able to work cross-functionally across departments.
• Organized project manager able to handle multiple priorities.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a high standard for quality.
  
  

Technology Skills:

• Minimum of 3 years pf experience working with ERP/MRP systems (Dynamics365 preferred).
• Microsoft Excel (v-lookup, pivot tables).
• Microsoft Office (Teams, Outlook, Power Point).
  
  

Work Environment:

• Onsite 4 days per week in Bronx, NY location.
• Ability to travel occasionally.