Associate, Category Management

Associate, Category Management

Founded in 2013, Home Chef is the leading meal solutions company with both a retail and online presence. Available online at  and in retail at more than 2,100 Kroger grocery stores, Home Chef is committed to inspiring and enabling more people to cook simple, delicious meals, no matter how busy they are.

In 2023, Home Chef introduced a new brand, Tempo! Tempo features a rotating selection of ready-to-heat meals delivered directly to your door. These meals are better-for-you versions of familiar favorites, designed to save you time and reduce stress while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Our Tempo menu includes options that are protein-packed, fiber-rich, calorie and carb conscious, keto-friendly, and dietitian-approved.

Similar to our recipes, we recognize that variety is the spice of life, and therefore, our employees also bring their uniqueness and color to our fantastic team. We're eager to work with humble team players and pragmatic next-level thinkers to innovate on Home Chef's offerings.

The Associate Category Manager is responsible for building a national category strategy by researching suppliers, performing RFPs, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and also executing that strategy at the plant level.

Detailed Responsibilities

Category Strategy

• Research the supply chain, industry structure, and potential supplier partners by using online tools, industry resources, and talking to suppliers
• Conduct research into supplier capabilities and product portfolios
• Create and present recommendations for sourcing strategies based on data-driven research
• Formulate and execute strategic sourcing plans with our distribution/fulfillment centers

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Support the plants by improving efficiencies, manage category costs, and reducing fulfillment and cost risk within the Home Chef supply chain.
• Work with cross-functional teams (Operations, Culinary, Food Safety, Supplier Quality, Procurement) to compare supplier samples, align on product spec and troubleshoot quality concerns
• Assist in managing emergency supply shorts and use category expertise to expedite replacement products or substitutes to plant teams

Minor Sourcing Project Management

• Conduct supplier discovery, exploratory conversations, and research
• Ensure NDAs are signed and draft RFP documentation
• Analyze bids received and provide pricing feedback to suppliers
• Make sourcing recommendations to category managers

Vendor Management

• Work and communicate with supplier partners to ensure that category goals are met
• Share short-term and long-term forecasts with vendors
• Address quality and fulfillment-related issues with the vendors and make sure corrective actions are taken
• Collect required documentation from vendors to meet FSQA guidelines

Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed for this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.

• 1+ year(s) experience in strategic sourcing, ideally within perishable goods
• Strong analytical skills, with competency in Excel
• Experience in relationship management
• Completion of a four-year degree in business or a related field

Illinois Pay Range

$67,000 - $74,500 USD