Description

The Role

The Director, Produce Category Management is responsible for leading the strategy and performance of FreshDirect's Produce business, driving customer satisfaction, sales growth, profitability, and operational excellence. This role oversees assortment planning, pricing, sourcing, vendor partnerships, merchandising, and customer experience initiatives to ensure a best-in-class produce offering.

As a key leader within the merchandising organization, the Director partners closely with Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing, Finance, Product, and Executive Leadership to deliver category growth and achieve business objectives.

The ideal candidate is a strategic and hands-on produce leader with deep expertise in fresh produce procurement, category management, vendor negotiations, and grocery retail. This individual will bring established relationships across the produce industry, a proven track record of leading high-performing teams, and experience driving profitable category growth. The role requires regular travel to industry trade shows, supplier locations, growing regions, and distribution partners to strengthen relationships, identify emerging trends, and uncover new business opportunities.

What You'll Do
• Develop and execute the Produce category strategy, driving sales growth, profitability, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence while aligning with company objectives and market opportunities.
• Own category performance, including assortment, pricing, promotions, merchandising, inventory productivity, shrink management, forecasting, replenishment, and key financial and operational metrics.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with growers, shippers, distributors, importers, and suppliers, leveraging industry expertise to identify sourcing opportunities, drive innovation, and ensure quality, supply continuity, and competitive advantage.
• Lead vendor negotiations, including pricing, contracts, rebates, service agreements, and strategic partnerships, while holding suppliers accountable for performance, food safety, service, quality, and cost.
• Analyze customer insights, market trends, seasonal opportunities, crop conditions, and competitive activity to identify growth opportunities, mitigate risks, and inform category decisions.
• Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Digital, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, and Product teams to deliver customer-focused merchandising strategies, promotional initiatives, and operational improvements.
• Monitor and present category performance, business results, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership while identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and growth.
• Travel regularly to industry trade shows, grower operations, supplier facilities, and distribution partners to strengthen relationships, identify emerging trends, and uncover new business opportunities.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Category Managers, Buyers, and Merchandising professionals, fostering a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and results.
• Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and development plans while driving coaching, succession planning, and talent development initiatives.

What You'll Bring
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Agriculture, Supply Chain, Food Science, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in Produce Category Management, Produce Buying, Merchandising, Sourcing, or a related fresh food leadership role.
• Extensive produce industry experience is required, including deep knowledge of fresh fruits and vegetables, seasonality, growing regions, supply chain dynamics, quality standards, and market trends.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing category management, buying, or merchandising teams.
• Established relationships with produce growers, distributors, shippers, and supplier partners across the industry.
• Proven success negotiating supplier agreements, pricing structures, contracts, rebates, and strategic partnerships.
• Strong track record of developing and executing category strategies that drive revenue growth, profitability, customer engagement, and operational excellence.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing category P&L performance, forecasting, budgeting, and profitability initiatives.
• Deep understanding of grocery retail economics, merchandising principles, consumer behavior, and perishable supply chain operations.
• Experience analyzing market trends, commodity pricing, crop forecasts, and supply-demand dynamics to inform business decisions.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable business strategies.
• Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and data analysis tools.
• Excellent executive communication, presentation, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly for supplier visits, food shows, industry conferences, and business meetings.

Salary

$160,000 - $190,000

Total Rewards & Benefits
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
• PTO, Safe & Sick Time, and Paid Holidays
• Medical, Vision, Dental, and Voluntary Disability coverage
• 401(k) with employer match and Life Insurance
• State-of-the-art Bronx campus with on-site basketball court, cafeteria, and employee market
• Onsite FREE parking
• FREE employee shuttle bus service from nearby Subway station
• Training, leadership development, and tuition discount at local colleges
• 20% employee discount on FreshDirect online orders and Brooklyn wine store
• Minimum 50% employee discount at our onsite employee market
• Mobile phone discounts through partnerships with T-Mobile and Verizon
• Gym membership discounts through NYSC

Our CultureWe embrace an in-office culture, composed of individuals who thrive on the collaboration and energy that comes from working together in a shared space. We are looking for people who excel in this environment, where physical presence enhances connections and engagement. At FreshDirect, we've created an environment that thrives on teamwork, where associates can innovate, grow, and have successful careers. Many of our leaders have successfully come up through our ranks. Because of our team's extraordinary efforts, we are a leading innovator in the e-commerce and grocery industries.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the Team member(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of individuals in this position. Position expectations may be subject to change as the needs of the organization changes.

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