Category Director, Food Solutions

When you're the best, we're the best. We instill an environment where employees feel engaged, satisfied and able to contribute their unique skills and talents while living and working as their authentic selves. We provide extensive opportunities for personal and professional development, building both employee competence and organizational capability to fuel exceptional performance through an inclusive environment both now and in the future.

Summary:

In this role, you will serve as Vizient's category expert for Food Solutions, leading strategic initiatives and execution across a diverse portfolio of products and services. You will oversee sourcing and contracting strategies that deliver measurable value to clients, strengthen supplier and distributor partnerships, and drive utilization of Vizient's contracted programs. You will monitor market trends and innovation to ensure competitive offerings that meet the evolving needs of healthcare organizations. You will collaborate cross-functionally to advance supply strategies, enhance performance, and elevate the future of food and nutrition solutions in healthcare.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop a team of category managers, fostering professional growth and driving performance across diverse food contract portfolios.

• Design and implement comprehensive category strategies and negotiation plans in collaboration with suppliers, distributors, and internal stakeholders.

• Oversee RFP processes from strategy through award, ensuring competitive, compliant, and value-driven outcomes.

• Serve as the subject matter expert for food and nutrition solutions, advising clients, suppliers, and internal partners on best practices and emerging trends.

• Monitor market intelligence, financial performance, and innovation to identify opportunities for growth and category differentiation.

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with suppliers and clients to enhance collaboration, transparency, and contract performance.

• Communicate key insights, performance metrics, and contract developments through clear and compelling presentations.

Qualifications:

• Relevant degree preferred.

• 7 or more years of relevant experience required.

• Deep understanding of food and nutrition product categories, distribution channels, and market dynamics.

• Demonstrated success developing and executing complex sourcing and contracting strategies that drive measurable results.

• Exceptional negotiation, analytical, and financial acumen.

• Proven ability to manage relationships across suppliers, clients, and cross-functional teams.

• Experience within a group purchasing organization (GPO) or healthcare foodservice environment preferred.

• Proficiency with category management systems, data analytics, and reporting tools.

• Willingness to travel.

Estimated Hiring Range:

This position is also incentive eligible.

Vizient has a comprehensive benefits plan! Please view our benefits here:

http://www.vizientinc.com/about-us/careers

Equal Opportunity Employer: Females/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The Company is committed to equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, gender identity, ethnicity, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status or any other category protected by applicable law.