Protein Divisional Merchandising Manager

Welcome to Gordon Food Service! We are excited that you are thinking about opportunities with us, and we have an amazing story to share. Here's a quick glance of who we are and the impact you could have on the food service industry. There's a seat at our table for you... Position Summary We are seeking a decisive, high-energy, market-oriented COP Commodity Category Manager to spearhead the incremental growth of our Protein category. While our Core Merchandising Manager maintains the foundational portfolio, you are the "Market Specialist." You will sit at the center of the action: responding to time-sensitive offers, collaborating with our Strategic Alliances, Specialty Companies, Vendor network and Sales teams and managing our COP Contracting program. We need a professional who thrives under pressure and can bridge the gap between global commodity trends and local market needs, ensuring our product portfolio and buy-side costs translate into a winning sell-side position. Location : the successful candidate must be able to commute to the Amherst Distribution Center for the current 4 days a week minimum. Travel : position currently requires some travel across the Atlantic region for customer visits What We Offer Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug, and EFAP Benefits after 30 days of employment FULL flex benefits program Company matching RRSP Family culture Advancement opportunities Profit Sharing 128 year, family owned and operated company history Main Responsibilities ​ Strategic Opportunity Buys Speedy & Decisive Action: In this fast-paced environment, you will make purchasing decisions on time-sensitive offers through our Strategic Alliances, Specialty Companies and Vendor network, ensuring we secure market advantages before they disappear. Continuous Market Monitoring: Monitor the competitive landscape and commodity fluctuations in real-time. You are responsible for ensuring we are competitively positioned allowing our sales team to win at the street level. Risk & Capacity Management: Manage higher-risk inventory by analyzing volume, DC capacity and market volatility before directing large, opportunistic buys. Sales & Marketing Synergy: Act as a critical resource for the sales by sourcing unique products and "opportunity buys" that drive incremental customer interest Risk & Inventory Management Strategic Coordination: Analyze volume, Distribution Centre (DC) capacity, and market volatility before directing large, high-risk buys. Cross-Functional Synergy: You are the connective tissue between the Core COP Divisional Merchandising Manager, Sales, Supply Chain and Revenue Management. You must be an exceptional collaborator to ensure opportunity buys are supported and sold through effectively. COP Contracting Program Management Supplier-Side Contracting: Act as primary point person with our Strategic Alliances and Specialty Company to secure contracts for key items at volumes and prices that will drive category growth. Customer-Side Contracting: Manage the division’s protein contracting program for customers. Ensure that supply-side costs align with customer-side commitments to protect margins and ensure reliable distribution. Contract Performance: Monitor and escalate contract performance issues, ensuring that both vendors and the division meet their volume and pricing obligations. Portfolio & Vendor Leadership Diverse Sourcing: Utilize a mix of national partners, strategic alliances, specialty companies and local/regional sources to ensure our portfolio remains market-relevant and competitive. Contract Negotiation: Lead negotiations with new regional suppliers, collaborating with Strategic Procurement to expand our local footprint. National/Regional Alignment: Represent the unique needs of the local market to the North American Category Team, ensuring regional agility within national frameworks. You must skillfully balance national strategies with unique regional demands, ensuring our local portfolio is relevant without diverging from long-range company goals. Seasonal Gap Analysis: Proactively anticipate seasonal demand and commodity cycles by securing supply and cost advantages ahead of peak periods, including executing forward buys when market conditions are favorable. Continuously assess the portfolio for gaps and position inventory in advance of seasonal spikes, balancing service levels with risk while leveraging market insights Sales Partnership & Customer Engagement Field-Based Sales Support: Partner with District Sales Managers and Sales Representatives to identify customer opportunities, provide protein expertise, and develop solutions that drive sales, brand, and margin growth. Customer-Facing Consultations: Support customer meetings, business reviews, and sales calls as the protein subject matter expert Category Education: Train and coach Sales teams on protein products, market trends, and selling strategies to build confidence and support customer success. Required Skills & Qualifications Protein Expertise: 3+ years of deep knowledge in beef, lamb, seafood and poultry, including quality standards and supply chain dynamics. Commodity Market Fluency: Extensive knowledge of market fluctuations and the ability to interpret data to make timely buying decisions. Financial & Analytical Acumen: Strong grasp of Margin, Pricing and DC capacity metrics in a perishable goods environment. Collaboration & Influence: Proven ability to work across multiple teams and influence stakeholders at both the regional and national levels. The "Intrapreneur" Spirit: A creative thinker who can inject fresh perspectives into the category and drive brand goals. Tech Savvy: Bachelor’s degree preferred; SAP experience is a significant asset for managing complex inventory and procurement data. #GFSCA We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for the next stage will be contacted. Gordon Food Service is an equal opportunity employer who strives to provide an inclusive work environment that involves everyone and embraces the diverse talent of its people. All qualified applicants and employees will receive consideration for employment, or in terms or conditions of employment, without regard to any enumerated or analogous grounds of discrimination, including race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status, sexual orientation or status as a qualified individual with disability. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please submit your request to and use the words “Accommodation Request” in your subject line.