Procurement & Category Sales Manager

Since 1977, Pacific Coast Fresh Company has been a cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest food scene. From humble beginnings as a family-run produce shop, we’ve grown into one of the region’s top independent food distributors—delivering farm-fresh produce, dairy, proteins, and specialty goods across the Northwest and into Canada.

It’s not just what we deliver, but how we show up for our people and our partners that defines us. Rooted in the values of Service, Quality, Integrity, Purposeful Growth, Sustainability, and Family, we’re committed to feeding communities with care, reliability, and respect.

General Description: 

As a member of our Procurement Team, this position is responsible for supporting the company’s sourcing and procurement efforts while driving growth of designated product categories through customer engagement, sales support, and market development activities. This role serves as a bridge between procurement, sales, operations, and customers to maximize product performance, profitability, and customer adoption.

Responsibilities:

Procurement & Category Management

• Support procurement activities for assigned product categories.
• Source products, evaluating suppliers, and maintaining vendor relationships.
• Monitor inventory levels, market trends, pricing fluctuations, and product availability.
• Develop demand forecasts and purchasing plans that align inventory levels with anticipated customer demand. 
• Manage inventory levels for assigned categories to ensure adequate product availability while minimizing excess inventory, spoilage, and carrying costs. 
• Monitor inventory aging, inventory turns, and product movement to identify opportunities and risks within assigned categories. 
• Take ownership of inventory health by proactively adjusting purchasing strategies and sales initiatives to maintain optimal stock levels.
• Collaborate with procurement leadership to identify opportunities for margin improvement and cost savings.
• Maintain accurate product information, pricing, and vendor records.
• Analyze sales, inventory, margin, and profitability data to identify opportunities for growth.
• Maintain accountability for category performance, including inventory turns, shrink, spoilage, product availability, sales growth, and gross margin performance.

Product Promotion & Sales Support

• Act as the internal subject matter expert for assigned product categories.
• Work closely with Sales Representatives to promote strategic products and programs.
• Conduct customer outreach to introduce new products, seasonal offerings, and promotional opportunities.
• Provide product recommendations, pricing guidance, and market insights to customers.
• Assist in developing sales materials, product sheets, and promotional campaigns.
• Support customer meetings, presentations, and product demonstrations as needed.
• Help identify opportunities to increase market penetration and sales volume within assigned categories.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Sales, Operations, Transportation, and Customer Success teams to ensure successful execution of product programs.
• Communicate supply challenges, substitutions, and market conditions to key stakeholders.
• Assist with forecasting and demand planning for strategic products.
• Participate in product reviews, vendor meetings, and category planning sessions.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities required: 

• Familiarity and experience with a wide range of produce items, including local and organic products. 
• Demonstrated critical thinking and ability to create and follow a business strategy. 
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, and the ability to use data to inform solid business practices.
• Knowledge of commodity locations, growing and harvesting practices, packing, and repacking, and other produce suppliers, distributors and processors.
• Strong communication and relationship building skills and the ability to work effectively with both internal and external customers.
• Proficiency in MS Office products, with emphasis in Excel.
• Good presentation skills and ability to communicate information with both detail and enthusiasm. 
• Ability to speak and write in English is required. 

Education and Work Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 3-5 years related job experience OR equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Proven business acumen.
• Problem Solving – Demonstrated skill identifying and resolving problems in a timely manner, gathering and analyzing information skillfully; developing alternative solutions; working effectively in a group problem solving situations. 
• Judgment – Includes appropriate people in decision making process and asks for help when needed. 
• Professionalism – Approaches others in a professional manner, reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments. 
• Ethics – Inspires the trust of others; works ethically and with integrity; maintains confidentiality; upholds organizational values. 

Pacific Coast Fresh Company is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

Pacific Coast Fresh Company participates in the E-Verify Electronic Employment Verification Program. To ensure that we continue to maintain a safe work environment, all employees must pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check prior to beginning work.