Category Manager

Overview

The Category Manager drives category performance through detailed analysis of product assortment, pricing, vendor proposals, and agreements. The position focuses on optimizing category activities, including new product reviews, assortment reviews, vendor negotiations, and competitive pricing reviews.

Benefits for Harbor Team Members include paid vacation, sick, personal and holidays, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with a generous employer match and Employee Assistance Program.

The pay range is between $75,000.00 annually and $ annually.

• Manage IMA and Harbor RFPs by analyzing vendor proposals, negotiating agreements, and overseeing ongoing supplier programs, with a focus on the Produce and Dairy categories. Analyze category performance across assortment, pricing, promotions, and vendor programs, using reporting and metrics to identify opportunities and risks. Based on insights, recommend and implement category strategy adjustments to drive sales growth, improve profitability, and support service level and inventory goals.
• Review pricing within assigned categories to identify issues and opportunities, ensuring competitive positioning while supporting margin and profitability objectives.
• Identify gaps in the Exclusive Brand portfolio and monitor market trends to identify product development opportunities. Ensure Exclusive Brand products are a primary consideration in the development and implementation of category strategies, including fresh and perishable categories such as Produce and Dairy.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Procurement, Sales, Operations, and Marketing to support category execution, forecasting, inventory management, and customer‑facing initiatives.
• Other duties may be assigned.

3 or more years of relevant experience in the food industry, with a four‑year college degree in business or a related field preferred.

• Ability to work effectively across multiple departments and levels of the organization, supported by strong analytical and quantitative skills, sound judgment, and the ability to drive results and support change.
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and Access.
• Ability to rapidly develop strong product knowledge within assigned categories.
• Produce category management experience strongly preferred, with Dairy category experience a plus.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer M/F/Vets/Disabled