Category Management Director, Fresh Foods & Bakery
Job Description
RaceTrac Company Overview
Job Description:
Director, Category Management – Fresh Foods & Bakery
This role leads the strategy, planning, and execution of Fresh Foods & Bakery category management at RaceTrac. As a key partner to the executive team, you’ll shape category strategy, drive profitability, and build an environment where teams grow, innovate, and deliver exceptional guest experiences. Your leadership ensures our categories stay competitive, efficient, and aligned with RaceTrac’s business goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary voice and point of contact for Category Management across planning and operations
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing category management team through feedback, training, and knowledge sharing
- Partner cross-functionally to align strategic direction and execute consistent planning and analytical goals
- Drive category growth and profitability through strong negotiations, competitive promotions, and industry-leading programs
- Develop and execute category strategies, financial targets, and guest service goals
- Ensure contract negotiations and vendor strategies align with RaceTrac’s best interests
- Oversee product mix, pricing, costs, and promotional strategies using data-driven insights
- Strengthen and maintain key vendor and internal stakeholder relationships
- Approve, prioritize, and monitor category expenditures
- Lead process improvement initiatives that increase efficiency and simplify work for both Guests and Associates
Success Measures (First 3–6 and 6–12 Months)
First 3–6 Months:
- Build strong relationships with category team members, vendors, and cross-functional partners
- Gain a deep understanding of Fresh Foods & Bakery performance, opportunities, and challenges
- Align category strategies with RaceTrac’s broader business goals
6–12 Months:
- Deliver measurable improvements in category profitability and sales growth
- Strengthen team capability through development, engagement, and succession planning
- Implement process and analytical improvements that enhance planning, execution, and guest satisfaction
Required Skills & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university
- 7+ years of professional experience in category management, procurement, merchandising, product management, or a related field
- Defined P&L experience
- Food service or fresh food category experience
- Proven people leadership and supervisory experience
- Strong strategic thinking, financial acumen, and negotiation skills
- Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence at senior levels
- Retail industry experience
- Project management experience
Who You’ll Work With
- Reports to: Executive Director
- Works closely with: Category Management, Operations, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, and key vendor partners
- Team environment: Collaborative, fast-paced, and focused on doing what’s right for the guest
Fueled by Growth, Driven by You
At RaceTrac, our people make the difference. Whether you’re working in a store, at our corporate office, or on the road, you’ll be part of a team that brings energy, innovation, and a passion for serving others every day. We support each other, celebrate wins big and small, and create opportunities for growth at every level. With four operating divisions RaceTrac, RaceWay, Energy Dispatch, and Gulf - there’s always a new challenge to take on and a new path to pursue. Join us and discover how far your career can go.
To see what #LifeatRaceTrac is like, visit our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment with RaceTrac without regard to their race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations
Responsibilities:
- Serves as the point of contact and voice of the Category Management department for planning and operations.
- Develops, coaches, and trains the current assigned Category Management team. Focuses on sharing knowledge and providing the tools necessary to increase department growth and exposure. Encourages continuous two-way feedback from all team members.
- Partners cross functionally with all members of the Category Management team to align strategic direction in order to execute consistent planning and analytical goals.
- Drives profitability and growth within assigned categories by implementing aggressive negotiation tactics, industry leading programs and competitive promotions to drive category sales.
- Ensures all contract negotiation strategies are in line with the best interest of RaceTrac.
- Assesses category offerings, develops and communicates strategies, and prioritizes the category team’s tactical work.
- Creates, plans, and executes appropriate financial and guest service goals for the assigned teams.
- Communicates strategies and gains alignment across departments impacted by category programs.
- Directs the development of analytical tools to manage product mix, cost, retails, and to determine promotional strategies.
- Strengthens key vendor relationships to maximize RaceTrac’s position in the marketplace.
- Approves, prioritizes, and monitors all category expenditures.
- Develops and maintains key business relationships with cross functional departments on a regular basis to ensure strategic alignment.
- Drives process improvement strategies that increase efficiencies and simplify our Guests’ and Associates’ lives.
Qualifications:
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment with RaceTrac without regard to their race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.