Poultry Category Manager

We’re not just another chicken joint—we’re one of the fastest-growing brands in the game, built on hand-made food and bold ambition. At Slim Chickens, every tenderloin gets the royal treatment: brined, buttermilk-soaked, hand-breaded, and cooked fresh to order. That same care and craft goes into how we grow our people.

If you’ve got hustle, heart, and an entrepreneurial spark, this is the place to prove yourself and shape your career. Our team thrives on real connection—working fast, thinking big, and building something that makes an impact every day. Here, you’ll be trusted to make decisions, empowered to own your work, and part of a crew that’s taking this brand to the next level.

Slim Chickens is growing fast. The only question is—are you ready to grow with us?

PURPOSE OF THE POSITIONWe are looking for an experienced Category Manager to lead our poultry category across our Slim Chicken’s network. This role is responsible for sourcing strategy, supplier relationships, cost management, and ensuring a consistent, high-quality supply of poultry products to support our operations in achieving cost and guest satisfaction goals.

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• • • Develop and execute the category strategy for fresh poultry, balancing cost, quality, food safety, and supply continuity
    • Manage supplier relationships, inventory, contracts, and negotiations to deliver competitive pricing and favorable terms
    • Monitor market conditions, commodity trends, and pricing indices (e.g., USDA reports) to inform forecasting and risk mitigation
    • Collaborate with operations, food safety, and culinary teams to ensure product specifications are met
    • Lead supplier performance reviews and drive continuous improvement initiatives
    • Work cross-functionally with demand planning and logistics to ensure on-time delivery and minimize supply disruptions
    • Support new product development and menu changes that involve fresh poultry
    • Ensure suppliers maintain compliance with product specification food safety standards, animal welfare policies, and regulatory requirements.

Slim Chickens systems principles and objectives (this competency appears in all job descriptions): 

Is familiar with Slim Chickens’ established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, Safety); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position’s role in support of these systems.

Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is intended to guide the activities of the Poultry Category Manager and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person to the work of this function, nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position.

Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer.  Visually verifies information, often in small print.  Employees are regularly required to talk or listen. 

Travel: 30%

Benefits:

• Health insurance

• Dental insurance

• Vision insurance

• Flexible Spending Account

• 401(k)

• Parental Leave

• Pet Insurance

• Paid time off

• Life Insurance

• Tuition reimbursement

• Adoption Assistance

Slim Chickens is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all open positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, citizenship status, national origin, marital status, military/veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, and physical or mental disability.

Requirements and Competencies:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills necessary to interact with cross functional leadership, suppliers, and franchisee communities.
• Working knowledge of poultry supply chains and commodity markets
• Solid analytical and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Exceptional attention to detail and great organizational skills with the ability to thrive in a dynamic business environment.
• Ability to work under strict deadlines, prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Forward-looking, analytical, creative, root cause identification, and problem-solving instincts.
• Working knowledge of poultry supply chains and commodity markets
• Experience with supplier negotiations and cost management preferred
• Experience sourcing and/or selling poultry products preferred
• Experience working with restaurant brands preferred
• General understanding of product management, quality assurance, and manufacturing

Technical Experience: Proficient in Microsoft Office with a focus on Excel.

Industry Experience:  3 years of product/category management, product supply chain experience.  

Minimum Education:  Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Agriculture, Food Science, or a related field