Category Manager Jobs in Maryland

Rhee Bros., LLC. is one of the largest importers of Asian food in the United States. Our mission is to provide our customers with best-in-class distribution services through innovative products, sourcing, and logistics solutions in Pan-Asian Food. Located in Hanover, MD, Rhee Bros currently serves independent Asian retailers, wholesale grocery and chain retailers, food service distributors, chain restaurants, and manufacturers. At Rhee Bros, our employees are the heart and soul of what we do. For two generations, we’ve become more diverse with talented professionals from all walks of life and backgrounds, and we aim to continue that tradition for years to come.

The physical heart of Rhee Brothers is our main distribution center in Hanover, MD. Our warehouse and transportation teams handle over 25,000 cases of dry, refrigerated, and frozen products every day. Food quality is paramount to our customers, and we pride ourselves on the safety and cleanliness of our warehouse in Irwindale, CA and Hanover, MD. Rhee Bros is a third-party food safety audited facility.

Job Title: Associate Category Manager

Reports to: Director - Category Management (works day to day with assigned Senior Category Managers)

Work Location: Hanover, MD

The Associate Category Manager is the foundation of the Category Management Team. The role produces the sales and category data the team works from, reviews that data every week for exceptions that need a Category Manager's attention and keeps item cost and status information in Business Central accurately and up to date.

By owning this base work, the Associate gives Category Managers reliable numbers before decisions are made and frees them to focus on vendor development, sourcing, assortment and category profitability.

This is an entry point into Category Management. Through structured shadowing of Senior Category Managers, the Associate learns vendor and item management, with the goal of advancing to Category Manager.

Key Responsibilities

Sales and Category Data (approx. 30%)

• Produce standard weekly and monthly category reports from Business Central: sales, units and gross profit by item, brand, category and region (RBE, RBW, and RBT once open).
• Maintain the Item Forecast Tracker: launch dates, 30/60/90-day sales against forecast, consensus quantities and item status.
• Prepare item data before the weekly CM Product Development meeting for every agenda item: current run-rate, months of stock (on hand, offsite and on order), gross profit, and results of comparable past items or promotions.
• Build the data portion of feasibility studies for new items and vendor promotions: historical demand, months of supply at the vendor MOQ, and shelf life against expected sell-through.
• Respond to ad-hoc data requests from Category Managers.

Weekly Exception Review and Escalation (approx. 25%)

• Review category data every week and issue an exception report to Senior Category Managers and the Head of Category Management by end of the day Monday.

Standard exceptions include:

-New items below 50% of target

-Items running well above or below forecast

-Out of stock and backorders on top-selling items

-Gross profit declines following a cost change

-Slow moving, aging or near dated stock, including offsite inventory

• Test vendor offers and Sales demand estimates against sales history and inventory before they are decided and state the gap clearly
• Track each reported exception until it is resolved or a decision is recorded.

Business Central Item and Cost Data (approx. 30%)

• Item master: set up new items and maintain item card data, including dimensions, case pack, UPC, pallet configuration (Ti-Hi) by distribution center, HTS code, country of origin, allergens and shelf life.
• Cost: enter approved vendor cost changes with their effective dates before the first receipt at the new cost; maintain cost terms (FOB/DDP) by distribution center; reconcile purchase order prices to vendor pro forma invoices.
• Item status: process approved TBD and discontinuation status changes in Business Central on the agreed schedule, coordinating with Sales Operations and IT so that changes do not cause order sync failures.
• Vendor Specifications: track missing specification data from vendors and consolidators and follow up until complete.
• New distribution centers: complete item setup for new locations, including the Texas DC (RBT).

Packaging and Label Inventory (approx. 5%)

• Maintain a packaging and label inventory log by item: stock on hand (at RB and held by vendors), monthly usage, months remaining, reprint lead time and print minimums.
• Alert the responsible Category Manager when a reprint must be ordered, early enough to cover lead time.

Development: Vendor and Item Management (approx. 10%)

• Shadow Senior Category Managers on a scheduled basis: vendor meetings and negotiations, feasibility studies, market visits and the weekly CM Product Development meeting.
• Take on defined vendor and item tasks for an assigned category, under the supervision of a Senior Category Manager, as skills develop.

Key Competencies

• Analytical judgement: separates routine variation from exceptions that need a decision
• Data discipline: accurate, complete and documented work
• Escalation with evidence: raises issues early, clearly and with supporting data
• Follow-through: takes ownership of open items until they are closed
• Curiosity: interests in products, vendors and the market
• Time management: meets fixed weekly deadlines alongside ad-hoc requests

Performance Metrics (KPI)

• Weekly exception report delivered by the deadline every week
• Item Forecast Tracker completeness: share of launched items with an actual launch date and 30/60/90-day results recorded
• Item master completeness: share of active items with all required fields filled
• Cost changes entered before the first receipt at the new cost
• Item status changes completed on schedule, with no order sync failures caused by item changes
• Reported exceptions tracked to resolution
• Development plan milestones completed on schedule

Requirements

• Bachelors' degree in Business, Analytics, Supply Chain, International Trade or a related field, or equivalent experience
• 1-3 years of experience in data analysis, purchasing, category management, merchandising or operations
• Microsoft Excel (pivot tables and lookups)
• Experience with an ERP system; Microsoft Business Central preferred
• Professional working proficiency in English and Korean, written and spoken
• Strong attention to detail and data accuracy
• Experience in food distribution, grocery or consumer packaged goods preferred
• Working knowledge of FDA, USDA and U.S. Customs requirements preferred
• Experience working with overseas or domestic food manufacturers preferred

Career Path

• 0-6 months: Reporting, Business Central data management and the weekly exception review
• 6-18 months: Structured shadowing; supports feasibility studies and defined vendor tasks
• 18+ months: eligible for promotion to Category Manager or ownership of a small category, based on performance review

Work Environment

• Office-based position. Remote days after probationary period
• Regular interaction with Category Managers, SPO, Supply Chain / Inventory Planning, Sales, Accounting and IT
• Occasional market visits and vendor meetings

Rhee Bros., LLC. is an equal opportunity employer and affords equal opportunity to all applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other class protected by federal, state, and local laws.

Pay: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person