Director of Category Management

About Us

Hungryroot is an AI-enabled consumer wellness company. Like a personal assistant for healthy living, we get to know your goals, lifestyle, and budget, and we recommend and deliver healthy groceries, easy recipes and essential supplements for you and your family. It’s the easiest way to eat healthy, achieve your goals, save time, and discover new foods. Founded on the belief that food is the foundation of health, convenience should not mean compromise, and we’re all unique in how we eat and live, Hungryroot is building a future in which healthy living is easy and enjoyable.

We are a distributed team built on top talent from over 28 states across the U.S. While we have a headquarters in New York City, we support employees working from wherever they are based. We believe in fostering team connection and collaboration across all of our employees' locations. Expect to attend regular team-building events and an annual company retreat. Expect to be treated like an owner who cares about our common goal, not someone who has to clock in and out of work.

About the Role

We’re seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Category Management  to lead our sourcing team and drive the development and execution of our long-term sourcing strategy. This individual will act as a “player-coach,” taking a hands-on approach to managing a team of Category Managers and ensuring that our assortment aligns with our brand values and meets our "Root Standard" for quality, nutrition, ease of preparation, and taste. The Director of Category Management will be a critical leader in our organization, reporting directly to our Vice President of Sales and working closely with our leadership team to define goals and set quarterly priorities to curate a modern, healthy, and innovative product selection.

The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in food, grocery, and private label products, with a strong preference for experience in eCommerce grocery. This individual will be hands-on in guiding the team, providing support on product or vendor issues, and ensuring that we have the right strategies and partnerships in place to achieve our sourcing goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Category Managers, fostering a collaborative and results-driven environment
• Collaborate with leadership to develop our long-term sourcing and merchandising strategy that aligns with our brand mission and business goals
• Translate the overall sourcing strategy into actionable priorities for the team; oversee the monthly product launch cycle, from aligning with category managers on new products to ensuring they’re properly displayed in our digital experience
• Oversee and mentor the Procurement Coordinator, ensuring seamless product onboarding and accurate product tagging, and effective support for all administrative needs of the sourcing team
• Partner with our strategic sales lead to guide the team in building and maintaining strategic vendor and supplier relationships, secure optimal pricing and contract terms, and ensure high performance, quality, and alignment with our sourcing standards
• Analyze and improve our key SKU metrics, including customer satisfaction, sales, cost efficiencies, vendor reliability, and contribution to company growth
• Stay informed of food and beverage trends, sourcing emerging and innovative products that fit our brand values and customer needs
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including culinary, product development, marketing and technical services, to evaluate new products and ensure they meet regulatory, quality, and branding standards
• Partner with the head of product development, culinary team, and category managers to support our private label product development efforts, including product ideation, vendor selection, packaging, and launch
• Ensure consistent communication and collaboration with supply chain and fulfillment center teams, helping to maintain optimal inventory levels and the highest quality standards

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in food and grocery sourcing, with a strong preference for eCommerce grocery experience
• Demonstrated success in leading and managing a team of category or sourcing professionals
• Strong knowledge of private label development and the sourcing process for food and grocery products
• Proven ability to develop and implement sourcing strategies and translate high-level goals into actionable plans
• Expertise in vendor negotiation, relationship management, and cost reduction strategies
• Analytical mindset with the ability to use data to make informed decisions and track team performance
• Passionate about food, health, and wellness, with a deep understanding of market trends and customer preferences
• Excellent communication, project management, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and adapt to evolving priorities

Perks & Benefits 

• Remote-first: work from home, work from our NYC office, work from anywhere in the U.S. - you decide!
• Equity 
• Unlimited vacation policy
• Universal paid parental leave
• Monthly Hungryroot credit for delicious, healthy groceries
• Comprehensive health, vision, dental, and life insurance
• Wellbeing benefits including One Medical, Spring Health, LiveHealth, Rightway care concierge, and more
• 401k
• A work from home stipend to support your initial home-office setup

Expected Pay Range
$160,000-$200,000

#LI-REMOTE

The employer will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Our mission to help make healthy eating easy, accessible, and joyful is better served by a diverse workplace. We are a proud Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building an inclusive workplace. We have zero-tolerance for harassment or discrimination. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected class.