Our Sourcing Team sits at the center of a fast-moving, time-sensitive supply chain, bringing premium fresh and frozen seafood from fishing operations, processors, and aquaculture suppliers to customers. We"re hiring a Sr Retail Vendor Manager to lead sourcing and supplier strategy for assigned seafood categories. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of species seasonality, wild harvest dynamics, aquaculture production cycles, and global market conditions, and can move quickly in the face of constant change driven by quota restrictions, environmental factors, logistics, and shifting demand. In this role, you"ll build and manage supplier relationships across domestic and international sources, maintaining consistent supply while balancing cost, quality, availability, and sustainability commitments. If you thrive in complexity, make decisions with urgency, and are energized by real-world supply challenges - this role is for you.
Key job responsibilities
Sourcing Strategy - Develop multi-year strategic sourcing plans aligned to the merchandising category strategy, including adding new suppliers across wild-caught, farmed, and value-added segments, forecasting supply needs by species and season, and adjusting purchasing plans to meet demand.
Cost & Supplier Negotiation - Own supplier negotiations, cost management, and contract terms across domestic and import supply; communicate cost changes to Merchandising for pricing and margin adjustments, including managing market-driven cost volatility.
Promotional Execution - Partner with suppliers to align funding and confirm promotional availability by species and harvest window; adjust purchase commitments or timing based on supply conditions, seasonal constraints, or quota availability.
Supplier Management - Lead supplier selection, onboarding, and ongoing relationship management across fishing operations, processors, importers, and aquaculture producers; ensure vendor compliance with quality, food safety, sustainability certifications (e.g., MSC, Monterey Bay ratings), and traceability standards.
Forecasting & Supply Planning - Collaborate with Merchandising and In-Stock teams to translate promotional and assortment plans into volume forecasts by species; proactively flag supply risks tied to harvest cycles, quota changes, or geopolitical factors and develop multi-year supply strategy.
Innovation & New Item Development - Facilitate supplier-facing ideation and sourcing for new items across fresh, frozen, and value-added formats; partner with Merchandising to assess item fit with category strategy and financial targets.
Supply Risk Management - Own communication and mitigation planning for supply disruptions including quota reductions, weather events, import delays, or cold chain failures; partner with Merchandising to determine prioritization or substitution plans.
Cross-Functional Point of Contact - Serve as the primary POC for suppliers, Exclusive Brands, and quality standards; coordinate cross-functional communication on cost, supply, sustainability compliance, and innovation.
A day in the life
Your day starts with working through quota updates, harvest reports, import delays, or cold chain disruptions that need immediate action. You"re on calls with processors and fishing operations to confirm availability, resolve cost issues, or lock in promotional commitments ahead of a key season. Mid-day shifts to cross-functional work: aligning with Merchandising on species forecasts, flagging supply risks tied to wild salmon run projections or halibut quota reductions, and adjusting purchase plans. You"re negotiating contracts, reviewing cost changes driven by global commodity markets, and keeping pricing and margin on track. By end of day, you"re planning ahead - monitoring harvest cycles, evaluating new aquaculture and import suppliers, and building the supply strategy for the next season.
Key species of preferred expertise: Swordfish, Tuna, Sea Scallops/Bay Scallops, Atlantic Halibut, Mahi, Atlantic Cod, Haddock, Cold Water Lobster, North Atlantic Local, East Coast Groundfish/Blue Catfish.
Learn more about species sourced and sourcing requirements for Whole Foods Market: https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/quality-standards/seafood-standards
About the team
Our Sourcing team connects fishing operations, processors, aquaculture producers, and customers in a fast-moving global supply chain, delivering premium fresh and frozen seafood year-round. We work cross-functionally with Merchandising, In-Stock, and Exclusive Brands to drive availability, manage costs, and bring innovative products to customers. Our mission is to ensure customers have access to the freshest, highest-quality seafood at the right price, every day - while upholding the sustainability standards that define the Whole Foods Market brand. If you"re energized by complexity and want your work to have a direct impact on what seafood customers can buy, this is the team for you.