The Sr. Director, Category Management, will oversee the category management team and all aspects of category management as an integral part of NDCP’s Restaurant Solutions and NDCP’s extended leadership team.

This position will contribute to the growth and profitability of Dunkin’ by optimizing sourcing strategies, building mutually beneficial supplier relationships, and promoting continuous improvement. The Sr. Director and category management team will provide dedicated support in the areas of supplier, cost, risk, and performance management. This includes ensuring timely supply of high-quality products and services at the lowest sustainable cost to the Dunkin’ franchisees on behalf of NDCP.

Restaurant Solutions has procurement and supply chain responsibilities for indirect products and services, such as kitchen equipment, smallwares, custom fabrication, distribution, and consolidation programs, construction materials, furnishings, lighting, signs, and store level services. The Sr. Director, Category Management will report directly to the EVP, Restaurant Solutions. NDCP and this position are located in Duluth, GA.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Scope of Responsibility (SDCM): Full accountability for sourcing and category management performance, people leadership, and developing strategic vision.
  • Set department vision, priorities, and organizational goals
  • Oversee category portfolio performance (cost, innovation, risk, supplier diversity)
  • Build alignment with NDCP internal leadership and Dunkin’/Inspire key stakeholders
  • Develop talent strategy: hiring, coaching, training, retention, succession planning
  • Lead enterprise supplier strategy and partnerships
  • Drive continuous improvement, process development and adherence, and technology adoption to optimize productivity and efficiency
  • Own reporting for board-level or executive leadership updates
• Team Leadership & Performance Management
  • Category Management: Broad range of items and services leveraged to build new restaurants, remodel existing restaurants, and support Dunkin’s ~10,000 existing restaurants.
  • Supplier Management: Accountable for direct management of supplier relationships, service performance, adherence to quality standards, costs, and risk mitigation.
  • Negotiation: Negotiate lowest possible landed cost based on product specifications, quality, service levels, and industry conditions.
  • Contract Execution: Optimize business terms/conditions and develop contracts for supply of products and services with all new and existing suppliers. Ensure timely completion.
  • New Program Offerings: Identification, discovery, initiation, and development of new, user-friendly program offerings to drive incremental value and improve the Member experience.
  • Inspire Collaboration: Interface and collaborate with Dunkin’/Inspire Brands New Store/Remodeling teams, R&D, Operations Services, and its franchisees to provide optimum cross-functional planning and execution of Category Management functions.
  • RFx Activity: Prepare and execute RFI, RFQ, and RFP events. Analyze responses and work with internal counterparts to achieve best award decision. Prepare executive summary with results.
  • Continuous Supply: Locate, analyze, develop, and maintain efficient and effective supplier base to meet current and future needs of all purchased materials and services.
• Project & Process Management
  • Lead cross-functional, multi-stakeholder initiatives spanning sourcing, supplier onboarding, contract execution, and new program launches, requiring formal project management discipline experience (e.g., PMP, SCRUM, Six Sigma, Prosci).
  • Design, standardize, and continuously improve category management and supplier processes in line with NDCP operating standards and SAP workflows.
  • Drive structured change management in Category Management with the support of NDCP CI and PMO functions.  Lead adoption of new processes, tools, and technologies.
• Financial & ERP (SAP) Expertise
  • Understanding of ERP-based financial processes supporting procurement and distribution, including invoicing, inventory tracking, goods receipts, and general ledger postings.
  • Partner with Finance to ensure accurate item, price, and supplier setup to support compliance, audit requirements, and clean financial reporting.
  • Partner with Finance, Accounting, and Operations to ensure sourcing decisions, contracts, and supplier programs translate correctly into SAP transactional and financial outcomes.
  • Partner with dedicated Finance support to leverage ERP and CRM data to support cost analysis, margin transparency, risk management, and board-level reporting.

Supervision Exercised

This position leads a team of six (6) currently.  

• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in category management and strategic sourcing, including supplier, cost, risk, and relationship management.
• Proven track record of success leading, motivating, and developing teams and individuals
• Excellent communicator, both written and verbal.
• Strong financial acumen, process orientation, and technology-forward mindset.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) required.
• Collaborative, “team first” approach with proven ability to develop strong business relationships and manage effectively.
• Proven organizational and project management capabilities, including the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive and dedicated with a drive for quality and results.
• Experience with a purchasing cooperative, foodservice distributor, franchise system, or within the foodservice/restaurant industry is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree is preferred in supply chain or business/finance.

Other Requirements

• Limited amount of travel required.

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
• Ability to operate a computer keyboard and to view a computer screen for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift, tug, pull up to fifteen (15) pounds.

Competencies

Building Customer Loyalty:  Effectively meet customer needs; build productive customer relationships; take responsibility for customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Building Partnerships:  Identify opportunities and take action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, units, or organizations to help achieve business goals.

Communication:  LISTENS AND SHARES: Provides regular, consistent, and meaningful information. Listens carefully to others and ensures message is understood. Ensures important matters are shared with all appropriate parties. CLARITY: Communicates in a clear and concise manner. Uses appropriate grammar, pronunciation, and tone to enhance understanding. Demonstrates professionalism through

body language, including eye-contact and posture. Tailors communication style to needs of the recipient.

Delivering Results:  Set high goals for personal and group accomplishment; use measurement methods to monitor progress toward goals; tenaciously work to meet or exceed goals while deriving satisfaction from that achievement and continuous improvement.

Job Knowledge:  Understands duties and responsibilities, has necessary job knowledge, has necessary technical skills, understands company mission/values, keeps job knowledge current, is in command of critical issues.

Planning and Organizing:  Establish courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently.

Problem Analysis and Problem-Solving:  Considers multiple sides of an issue. Weighs consequences before making final decision. Makes informed decisions based on available information. Recognizes

issues, and determines actions needed to advance the decision-making process. Follows up, as necessary.

Self-Development: Seeks out and accepts feedback, is a proactive learner, takes on tough assignments to improve skills, keeps knowledge and skills up to date, turns mistakes into learning opportunities.

Teamwork:  Meets all team deadlines and responsibilities, listens to others and values opinions, helps team leader to meet goals, welcomes newcomers, and promotes a team atmosphere.

Benefits: We offer competitive compensation packages and excellent benefits. Our comprehensive offerings include: 

• A variety of affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage 

• Flexible Spending Accounts 

• Company-paid Group Life, AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability coverage 

• Voluntary Life and AD&D coverage 

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match 

• Employee Assistance Program 

• Paid time off for Vacation. Discretionary time, Sick time, and Holidays 

• Education Discounts at Southern New Hampshire University, as well as access to online self-study materials through our internal Learning Management System 

• Fitness and Wellness Discount and Reimbursement Program 

• Employee purchase discount programs 

• Employee apparel program 
• Bonus

Join Our Team: Ready to take the next step in your career? Apply now to become a part of NDCP and contribute to our mission of delivering innovative supply chain solutions to the foodservice industry. Your journey to success starts here! 

Equal Opportunity Employer: NDCP is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. 

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