Category Manager (Senior/National)

Stratas Foods is seeking an experienced commercial leader to join our Inside Sales Team. We are open to hiring at either the Sr. Category Manager or National Category Manager level depending on the selected candidate’s experience, skills, and career progression.

This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career with a market leader in the edible oils and shortenings industry. The successful candidate will partner across Sales, Procurement, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, Marketing, and Technical Services to develop category strategies, manage customer relationships, optimize pricing, and drive business performance.

Depending on experience, this role may include direct leadership of category team members and ownership of broader strategic initiatives.

What You'll Do

• Build and strengthen customer relationships while fostering a culture of exceptional service.
• Manage a strategic book of business, providing category expertise through pricing, forward contracting, RFP/RFQ responses, forecasting, and customer support.
• Develop and execute category strategies that drive profitable growth, margin expansion, and long-term customer success.
• Analyze commodity markets, pricing trends, competitive activity, and customer opportunities to support sound business decisions.
• Own category forecasting and collaborate with Supply Chain and Operations to support inventory planning and demand management.
• Partner closely with Procurement, Finance, Marketing, Technical Services, Operations, Customer Service, and Sales to execute business objectives.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to increase sales volume, profitability, and market share.
• Lead category-related projects and contribute to company-wide initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with onsite teams and participate in onsite meetings to drive departmental objectives.

• Depending on level, mentor and coach team members, provide strategic leadership for category performance, and assume ownership of category P&L responsibilities.

• Some travel is required.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Marketing, Accounting, or related field preferred.
• MBA or other advanced degree is a plus.

Experience (depending on level)

Sr. Category Manager

• 3+ years of experience in category management, sales support, finance, procurement, supply chain, or related commercial roles.
• Experience supporting strategic customer accounts and developing pricing strategies.

• Working knowledge of commodity markets preferred.

• Mentors others and contribute to broader business initiatives.

National Category Manager

• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in category management, commercial leadership, sales, or commodities.
• Demonstrated success developing category strategies, leading business growth initiatives, forecasting, and managing customer portfolios.
• Experience mentoring or leading others preferred.
• P&L ownership and commodity market experience strongly preferred.

Additional Qualifications

• Strong analytical, financial, and Excel skills.
• ERP, Salesforce, forecasting, and S&OP/IBP experience preferred.
• Excellent communication, customer relationship, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

Competencies

• Analytical Skills: Reviews business information to identify trends, evaluate profitability, assess pricing strategies, and support category performance. Uses market intelligence, forecasting tools, ERP systems, and business analytics to drive informed decisions.
• Financial & Mathematical Skills: Performs pricing calculations accurately while evaluating costs, margins, market conditions, and profitability to support sound commercial decisions.
• Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally with customers and internal partners. Presents data effectively, builds trust, and collaborates across all levels of the organization.
• Customer Focus: Builds long-term partnerships by understanding customer needs, anticipating challenges, and delivering value-added solutions.
• Problem Solving: Analyzes complex business situations, develops practical solutions, and drives execution through collaboration and sound judgment.
• Leadership & Teamwork: Works effectively across Sales, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, Marketing, Technical Services, and Legal. Depending on level, mentors team members, leads category initiatives, and develops others while promoting a collaborative culture.
• Judgment: Makes timely, informed decisions while exercising discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive business information.

Physical: Typical activities may include prolonged periods of sitting or standing, using a computer, and occasional movement within the workplace. May require lifting or moving items up to 25 pounds.

Sensory: Requires clear verbal and written communication skills to interact effectively with team members and others. Active listening and attention to detail are essential.

Mental/Reasoning: Must be able to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and adapt to changing demands. Requires strong organizational skills, dependability, and the ability to work independently or as part of a team. Must demonstrate sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion.

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision

Stratas Foods is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee in any manner prohibited by law, including but not limited to, on the basis of race or color, religion, gender, age, genetic information, national origin/ancestry, mental or physical disability, family status/marital status, military/veteran status, and any other legally protected status.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision-The Employer will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the Employer’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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