Food Category Manager

Experience developing and implementing long-term category strategies that extend beyond traditional sourcing to include supplier relationship management, category governance, business engagement, sustainability, supplier diversity, innovation, and measurable value realization. Minimum 8 years of experience in strategic sourcing, category management, supply chain management, foodservice procurement, food distribution, hospitality procurement, or related commercial procurement experience.

Food Category Manager
Oakland, CA (onsite)
6 to 12 months contract role
Upto 15% travel
Perm Role

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in strategic sourcing, category management, supply chain management, foodservice procurement, food distribution, hospitality procurement, or related commercial procurement experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing category strategies, leading complex sourcing initiatives, and negotiating enterprise-wide supplier agreements.
• Demonstrated experience building strategic partnerships and leading cross-functional stakeholder engagement across decentralized organizations. Proven ability to influence without authority, facilitate consensus among diverse stakeholders, and navigate complex organizational environments while balancing operational priorities with enterprise objectives
• Experience managing complex supplier relationships and delivering measurable value through cost optimization, service improvements, supplier innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of experience in one or more of the following:
• Foodservice distribution
• Dining services procurement
• Hospitality procurement
• Higher education dining
• Healthcare foodservice
• Large institutional food procurement
• Experience leading large-scale food distribution or dining services RFPs.
• Experience working with national food distributors such as Sysco, US Foods, Performance Food Group (PFG), Gordon Food Service, UNFI, Core-Mark, or similar organizations.
• Experience utilizing Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) such as E&I, OMNIA, Vizient, Premier, Entegra, or other cooperative purchasing organizations.
• Experience working within a decentralized, multi-stakeholder organization.

Skills and Abilities

• Category Expertise
• Demonstrated high level of category expertise in Food Services, Food Distribution, Hospitality, Dining Services, Grocery, or Institutional Food Procurement.
• Ability to serve as a trusted advisor to Dining Directors, Procurement leaders, Auxiliary Services, Hospitality leaders, and executive stakeholders.
• Experience developing and implementing long-term category strategies that extend beyond traditional sourcing to include supplier relationship management, category governance, business engagement, sustainability, supplier diversity, innovation, and measurable value realization.

Metasys Technologies is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, veteran or disability status.