Director of Category & Supply Chain Management

Director of Category & Supply Chain Management      

Join a team with a mission that matters! Since 1996, Military Deli & Bakery Services (MDBS) has proudly served military families, providing fresh, high-quality deli and bakery products at U.S. Military commissary stores across the country. As the largest government contractor for these departments, we operate 103 locations nationwide.

We are seeking a results-driven, strategic leader to fill the position of Director of Category & Supply Chain Management. This role oversees the end-to-end management of our Deli, Prepared Foods, Bakery, and Supplies categories. It plays a critical part in driving sales, profitability, and operational excellence across all store locations. About 20% of travel is expected in this role.  It is a hybrid position, combining in-office work at the Aurora corporate office for a few days each week and remote work from a home office for the remainder. 

Salary starting at $130,000 and more, based on the level of experience and expertise of the candidate.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative, analytical, and experienced leader who can connect strategy with execution—balancing market trends, vendor partnerships, pricing administration, distribution logistics, and food safety compliance.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in merchandising, supply chain, or related leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional teams and multi-category operations.
• Strong leadership, negotiation, communication, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in merchandising systems, pricing tools, and supply chain platforms.

Key Areas of Expertise & Responsibilities

• Category Strategy & Product Management:
Develop and lead category strategies that align with company goals and market trends to maximize growth, margin, and market share. Oversee product selection, promotional planning, pricing strategies, and planogram execution across all designated categories. Conduct new product research and development, particularly for the prepared foods program.

• Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Manage and mentor a team of 12, including category managers and support staff, ensuring strong performance, collaboration, and development. Facilitate communication across Operations, Accounting, and Business Systems to ensure successful execution of category plans. Foster a high-performance team culture that supports company objectives.

• Vendor & Supplier Relationship Management:
Lead joint business planning with suppliers, including the negotiation of vendor agreements, funding, and promotional support. Maintain strong vendor relationships that support category growth and innovation. Ensure contract pricing and service level compliance across all categories.

• Pricing Administration:
Manage the implementation and maintenance of product pricing across all categories. Monitor vendor cost changes, execute regular pricing updates, and ensure price accuracy across systems. Support promotional pricing timelines and respond to internal pricing inquiries.

• Distribution:
Lead and oversee all aspects of a multifunctional distribution operation to ensure efficient, accurate, and cost-effective fulfillment. Drive efficiency, enhance service levels, and manage costs across 103 store locations. Oversee internal order processing, cross-dock centers, and transportation activities.

• Food Safety & Compliance:
Support and monitor food safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance programs to ensure company standards are met. Maintain HACCP plans, manage recalls, and document incidents and preventive actions. Stay current on FDA, USDA, and Military Food Safety requirements and ensure alignment across categories.

• Data Analytics & Performance Management:
Use customer insights, sales data, and competitive analysis to make data-driven decisions and improve category performance. Own and manage the P&L for all assigned categories and hold teams accountabl