Category Manager

Company Overview

Bagel Brands is the parent organization behind Einstein Bros. Bagels, Bruegger's Bagels, Noah's NY Bagels, and Manhattan Bagel. The company is guided by a set of values and behaviors centered on creating positive experiences through warm, fresh-baked bagels and friendly service.

Role Summary

The Category Manager will lead sourcing and procurement work across assigned spend categories for Bagel Brands. The position focuses on achieving the best possible outcomes across cost, quality, service, and supply risk to support overall business performance across the brand portfolio.

Working across functions, this role will build supplier partnerships, support negotiations and contracts, and drive savings and ongoing improvement efforts. It also plays a key part in protecting supply continuity and maintaining supplier performance in line with the company’s mission, vision, and values.

Business Details

Department: Supply Chain

Base salary: $95,000 to $105,000 annually

Target bonus: 15%

Work location: Denver, Colorado, at 1720 S Bellaire St. Skybox, Denver, CO 80222

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of category management and supplier relationships for assigned spend areas, covering roughly $20M–$30M and about 90–120 SKUs.
• Build and execute sourcing plans that balance price, quality, service levels, reliability, and supply risk.
• Run and support RFP/RFQ activities, including supplier assessment, data review, and recommendation preparation.
• Find and deliver cost-reduction opportunities and sourcing initiatives that improve year-over-year financial results.
• Track category performance and adjust sourcing plans based on market changes and business priorities.
• Manage supplier relationships and ongoing performance for the assigned categories.
• Conduct regular business reviews with suppliers to evaluate quality, delivery, cost, and compliance.
• Assist with negotiating and implementing supplier agreements, including pricing, service terms, and commercial terms.
• Keep contract files current, including agreements, amendments, NDAs, and other supplier records.
• Create contingency plans to reduce supply risk, including exposure to single-source suppliers.
• Work closely with R&D, Marketing, Operations, Quality, and Finance on sourcing needs for limited-time offers, innovation, and new concept development.
• Share supplier performance insights, market intelligence, and supply-risk information with internal partners.
• Support product commercialization by identifying supplier options and assessing sourcing feasibility.
• Ensure suppliers meet Bagel Brands’ quality, regulatory, and certification requirements.
• Review spend, supplier performance, and market information to guide sourcing decisions and category insights.
• Maintain accurate records of supplier metrics and sourcing outcomes.
• Contribute to process-improvement efforts within procurement and category management.
• Prepare clear and accurate reporting for Supply Chain leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

Leadership Competencies

• Communicates clearly and concisely, turning supplier and market data into practical recommendations for different audiences.
• Shows accountability by owning category results, supplier outcomes, and sourcing deliverables.
• Adapts well to shifting priorities, changing market conditions, and ambiguity while staying focused on execution.
• Works collaboratively, shares knowledge, and supports shared decision-making across teams.
• Stays curious about supplier capabilities, market trends, and opportunities to improve cost, quality, and service.
• Welcomes feedback, understands personal impact, and adjusts approach to strengthen working relationships.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• At least 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement in the food, beverage, packaging, or restaurant space.
• Experience in multi-unit, multi-brand, or multi-region organizations is preferred.
• Strong background in supplier negotiations, sourcing strategy, and contract management.
• Good financial and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret market data and model cost impacts.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Strong organizational ability and comfort managing several priorities independently.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to work in a matrixed organization.

Physical Requirements

This position involves sitting, standing, bending, lifting, and moving intermittently during work hours. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Additional Information

The company may update duties and responsibilities from time to time, and management reserves the right to add or remove tasks as needed. This description is intended to outline the general level of work and is not an exhaustive list.

Bagel Brands is an equal opportunity employer and provides fair treatment in employment. Employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without discrimination under applicable federal, state, or local law.

The compensation range stated above reflects what the employer reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position.