In order to be considered for this role, after clicking "Apply Now" above and being redirected, you must fully complete the application process on the follow-up screen.Overview
The
Senior Category Manager, Food & Beverage, is responsible for leading enterprise-wide category strategy across food, beverage, and related supplier partnerships. This role drives total value creation-balancing cost optimization, quality, service, risk management, sustainability, and revenue enablement-while supporting diverse operating models across venues and regions. This leader partners closely with Operations, Culinary, Finance, Legal, and Commercial teams to build scalable, compliant, and high-performing supplier ecosystems that support growth, guest experience, and long-term enterprise value. This role embodies procurement with a purpose: building high-performing supplier partnerships that elevate operational performance, protect the brand, and deliver measurable enterprise value. The ideal candidate will bring deep sourcing expertise, strong leadership, and a collaborative mindset to transform procurement into a strategic business partner.
This role pays an annual salary of $150,000-$165,000 and is bonus eligible.
Benefits for Full-Time roles: Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, 401(k) matching, and Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays).This position will remain open until November 27, 2026Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Enterprise Value Creation- Own and execute multi-year Food & Beverage category strategies aligned to business growth, venue needs, and market dynamics
- Lead category segmentation (e.g., broadline distribution, protein, beverage, alcohol, non-alcoholic, disposables, specialty/local suppliers)
- Identify and deliver value across cost savings, revenue opportunities, sponsorship alignment, and service and product performance improvements
- Balance global/national leverage with local flexibility to support diverse venue requirements
- Develop and maintain sourcing and category policies, playbooks, and contract templates.
- Lead major RFPs, contract negotiations, and supplier selection in collaboration with business stakeholders and legal.
Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Leadership- Lead complex sourcing initiatives including RFPs, negotiations, and supplier selection
- Develop negotiation strategies that address pricing, service levels, inflation protection, and risk mitigation
- Ensure sourcing strategies align with governance, compliance, regulatory requirements, and financial controls
Supplier Partnership & Performance Management- Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, including broadline distributors, beverage partners, and specialty suppliers
- Monitor supplier performance, including cost, service, quality, and compliance, and develop supplier improvement initiatives.
- Drive continuous improvement across service, fill rates, pricing accuracy, and innovation
- Support supplier risk management, contingency planning, and continuity of supply
Stakeholder Partnership & Influence- Serve as a trusted advisor to Operations, Culinary, Venue Leadership, and Finance
- Translate operational needs into scalable sourcing strategies
- Influence without authority in a highly matrixed, fast-paced environment
- Drive adoption of preferred suppliers and contracts through collaboration and change management
- Partner with Finance, Risk, and Legal to manage contractual risk and compliance.
Supplier Inclusion, Sustainability & Purpose- Advance supplier inclusion goals by identifying, onboarding, and scaling diverse and local suppliers
- Partner with internal teams to align Food & Beverage sourcing with sustainability, ESG, and community impact objectives
- Ensure supplier data, certifications, and reporting support transparency and compliance
Financial & Data Leadership- Own category spend analytics, savings tracking, and financial validation
- Partner with Finance on rebate tracking, accruals, and incentive management
- Leverage procurement technology (e.g., Coupa) to enhance visibility, automate workflows, and enable data-driven decisions.
- Track and report on sourcing savings, pipeline, and category performance to executive leadership.
- Continuously evaluate and improve category management and sourcing tools, scorecards, and metrics.
Procurement Transformation Enablement- Support enterprise procurement transformation initiatives, including process standardization and digital enablement
- Champion best practices in category management, sourcing, and supplier governance
- Contribute to a high-performance, values-driven procurement culture
Additional ad hoc responsibilities will be needed as the program grows and matures; the list above is not exhaustive.
Qualifications
Required Attributes:- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related field.
- 4-6+ years of experience in strategic sourcing or category management, with significant Food & Beverage exposure.
- Proven experience leading category strategies and sourcing across complex, multi-site or enterprise sourcing initiatives.
- Strong commercial, financial, and negotiation acumen with deep negotiation and contract management skills, with experience managing complex, high-value agreements.
- Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive adoption in decentralized environments.
- Experience with procurement platforms (e.g., Coupa), supplier diversity, ESG initiatives, and procurement-driven innovation.
Preferred Attributes:- Passion for live entertainment, culinary innovation, and venue experience.
- Experience balancing national programs with local supplier needs.
- Strategic thinker with a bias for execution and results.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making.
- Supplier Relationship Management.
Travel Requirements - This position may travel up to 50% of the time
