Senior Manager, Food & Beverage Category Management

Job description

Senior Manager, Food & Beverage Category Management Reports To – VP, Category Management Location – Remote (U.S.) w/ travel up to 25% Full-Time, Exempt About Legends Global Legends Global is the premier partner to the world’s greatest live events, venues, and brands. We deliver a fully integrated solution of premium services that keeps our partners front and center through our white-label approach. Our network of 450 venues worldwide, hosting 20,000 events and entertaining 165 million guests each year, is powered by our depth of expertise and level of execution across every component — feasibility & consulting, owner’s representation, sales, partnerships, hospitality, merchandise, venue management, and content & booking — of world-class live events and venues. The Legends Global culture is one of respect, ambitious thinking, collaboration, and bold action. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone can be authentic, make an impact, and grow their career. Winning is an everyday thing at Legends Global. The Opportunity We are building a centralized Category Management function to transform how Legends Global sources, contracts, and manages the goods and services that power our portfolio of stadiums, arenas, convention centers, theatres, amphitheaters, and attractions. The Senior Manager, Food & Beverage Category Management will own the strategic sourcing lifecycle for all related categories across this diverse portfolio. This is a high-impact role that requires someone who can navigate a complex operating model where central procurement influences but does not mandate venue-level purchasing decisions. You will develop category strategies, negotiate enterprise agreements, and build supplier partnerships that deliver measurable value—while respecting that each venue operates under unique client requirements and local conditions. Position Summary The Senior Manager, Food & Beverage Category Management is a strategic procurement leader responsible for developing and executing comprehensive category strategies across Legends' portfolio of venues globally. This role will drive enterprise-wide procurement excellence across all food and beverage goods, and related services categories supporting our venue operations, concessions programs, premium hospitality experiences, and guest services. Reporting to the VP of Category Management, this position will aggregate spend, rationalize suppliers, negotiate national contracts, optimize costs, and build strategic supplier partnerships that deliver measurable value to Legends and our venue partners. The Sr. Manager will serve as the subject matter expert for all F&B and Hospitality related procurement activities, partnering closely with operations, finance, culinary teams, and venue leadership to balance cost, quality, innovation, and service delivery. This is a high-impact role requiring deep category expertise, sophisticated negotiation skills, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to influence stakeholders across a decentralized operating model where venues maintain operational autonomy. Key Responsibilities Strategic Category Management Develop and execute multi-year category strategies for food, beverage, hospitality goods, and related services categories across the Legends portfolio Lead spend analysis, market assessments, and total cost of ownership (TCO) evaluations to identify consolidation and optimization opportunities Design and implement supplier rationalization initiatives that balance standardization with venue-specific operational requirements Build and maintain category roadmaps that align procurement initiatives with broader business objectives and growth strategies Partner with culinary leadership and operations teams on menu engineering initiatives that optimize product mix, cost structures, and guest satisfaction Establish category performance benchmarks, KPIs, and dashboards to track savings, compliance, supplier performance, and program adoption Sourcing & Contract Negotiation Lead strategic sourcing events (RFIs, RFPs, etc.) for national and regional agreements across all assigned categories Negotiate complex, multi-year master agreements and pricing structures that deliver competitive pricing, favorable terms, and operational flexibility Structure innovative deal frameworks including volume commitments, rebates, marketing funds, performance incentives, and cost escalation protections Develop standardized contract templates, rate or pricing schedules, SLAs, and terms & conditions for F&B and hospitality categories Manage contract lifecycle activities including renewals, amendments, price reviews, and supplier performance evaluations Build strong supplier partnerships with key broadline distributors (e.g., Sysco, US Foods), center-of-plate providers, produce suppliers, specialty/gourmet vendors, beverage suppliers (alcohol and non-alcohol), and hospitality goods manufacturers Supplier Relationship Management Cultivate strategic relationships with senior leadership at key supplier organizations Conduct quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with top-tier suppliers to evaluate performance, address issues, and identify innovation opportunities Organize product cuttings, menu tastings, and supplier showcases to introduce new products, trends, and cost-saving alternatives to venue or corporate stakeholders Facilitate joint business planning sessions with suppliers to align on growth initiatives, promotional calendars, and supply chain resilience strategies Establish supplier scorecards and performance metrics tied to quality, service, delivery, innovation, and value creation Resolve escalated supplier issues including product quality concerns, delivery failures, pricing disputes, and service gaps Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management Build consensus and drive adoption of national contracts across a decentralized venue network where mandates are not enforceable Develop compelling value propositions, business cases, and ROI analyses that demonstrate the benefits of consolidated procurement programs Conduct venue roadshows, webinars, and training sessions to educate stakeholders on available contracts, ordering processes, and program benefits Partner with finance teams to track rebate accruals, validate supplier payments, and reconcile discrepancies Collaborate with operations, culinary, and hospitality leadership to ensure procurement strategies support operational excellence and guest experience goals Serve as trusted advisor to venue GMs, executive chefs, and F&B directors on product specifications, supplier selection, and cost optimization strategies Program Governance & Compliance Ensure compliance with corporate procurement policies, contracting authorities, ethical sourcing standards, and regulatory requirements Maintain accurate category documentation including contracts, rate sheets, approved supplier lists, specifications, and program guidelines Support internal and external audits by providing procurement documentation, spend reports, and compliance evidence Monitor supplier compliance with contractual commitments including pricing, service levels, insurance requirements, and diversity commitments Required Qualifications Education & Experience Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, or related field required; MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred 8+ years of progressive procurement or category management experience with at least 5 years focused on food, beverage, and/or hospitality categories 3+ years of experience in a leadership or senior individual contributor role managing complex, multi-stakeholder procurement programs Proven track record of delivering measurable cost savings, process improvements, and supplier performance enhancements in a high-volume, fast-paced environment Industry & Category Expertise Deep knowledge of food and beverage supply chains including broadline distribution, center-of-plate proteins, produce, dairy, specialty/gourmet ingredients, and dry goods Strong understanding of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage categories including beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, and other beverages Familiarity with hospitality goods and services categories including smallwares, F&B disposables, linens, tabletop, and guest amenities Understanding of foodservice equipment categories including cooking equipment, refrigeration, warewashing, beverage systems, and kitchen smallwares Experience working with nationally recognized suppliers in the hospitality, restaurant, sports venue, entertainment, travel, or leisure industries Knowledge of back-of-house (BOH) and front-of-house (FOH) operations is highly valued; culinary or F&B operations background is a strong plus Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); advanced Excel skills strongly preferred Business acumen with understanding of P&L dynamics, margin structures, rebate programs, and cost allocation models Strong executive presence with ability to present confidently to C-suite audiences, supplier executives, and cross-functional leadership teams Proficiency with procurement tools and technologies including spend analytics platforms, eProcurement tools, contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems, and ERP systems Preferred Qualifications Experience in sports, entertainment, hospitality, restaurants, hotels, convention centers, or similar high-volume, guest-facing environments Knowledge of sustainability practices, local sourcing initiatives, and ethical procurement standards in food and hospitality industries Familiarity with menu engineering principles, recipe costing, and bill-of-materials (BOM) structures for F&B operations Experience managing national or multi-site procurement programs for organizations with $100M+ in annual spend WORKING CONDITIONS Location: This role will be remote. Up to 25% domestic travel to venue sites, supplier facilities, and industry events. Travel will be concentrated around company meetings, RFP presentations, supplier negotiations, venue onboarding, product cuttings, and quarterly business reviews. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. NOTE: The essential responsibilities of this position are described under the headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. Also, this document in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Legends Global is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, and encourages Women, Minorities, Individuals with Disabilities, and protected Veterans to apply. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.