Category Buyer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Category Buyer roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, or a related field. Employers file a Labor Condition Application before sponsorship begins. No lottery exemptions apply, but the role's degree requirement makes it a strong fit for H-1B petitions.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Our mission is to make everyday eating extraordinary for our guests. We create a warm, welcoming, memorable experience with exceptional, personal service. We’re looking for a new team member who strives for excellence and brings positive energy, commitment, and a “can-do” attitude to work every day. We value teamwork and celebrate our successes as a team and will value your contribution!
Added Benefits for choosing The Fresh Market Team:
- Team Member discount up to 40%
- Health, Dental, & Vision insurance available for individual, spouse, partner, and family.
- 401K contribution and match for part-time and full-time team members
- Personal time off and additional time off purchase plans are available
- AND much more!
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Fresh Market currently has an opening for a Category Buyer - Bakery in our Store Support Center (099). The Category Buyer will be responsible for the overall promotion of their category portfolio to maximize consumer appeal and increase the sales and profitability of the business while driving sustainable growth. You will support the department in the creation, development, execution, and financial performance of an assigned category.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Demand planning: Develop SKU-level demand plans by analyzing sales trends, promotions, vendor agreements, and presentation minimums.
- Vendor collaboration: Work with distributors to improve service levels and negotiate product costs, vendor funds, and non-resale goods costs.
- Procurement & allocation: Manage product procurement, allocation, and in-store inventory targets by category.
- Cost accuracy: Ensure cost data accuracy in the database.
- Product lifecycle management: Collaborate with Retail Category Management/Private Label Brands on forecasting new items, transitions, and discontinuations.
- Performance monitoring: Track new product sales and build historical data for future launches.
QUALIFICATIONS
At a minimum, you will need:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- 4-7+ years of Category Management or related experience.
- Deep knowledge and understanding of the grocery business and systems/processes.
- Experience in understanding consumer demand in the fast-paced retail/grocery environment.
- Ability to develop/maintain strong working relationships with peers and cross-functional teams.
- Possesses strong merchandising, product, and marketing skills.
- Demonstrate strong analytical, negotiating, and problem-solving skills.
- Willing and able to travel for trade shows and store trips.
- Flexible and adaptive to changing priorities.
- Able to organize and prioritize workload to meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated skills with MS Office applications.
- Project management skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Demonstrated experience utilizing Nielsen and/or IRI.
- Experience with MicroStrategy.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: Consistent with applicable laws, TFM will make reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and team members, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to TFM. This guiding principle applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring and job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer:
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy and related medical conditions, national origin, genetic information, uniformed service, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal or state law.
The statements in this job description are provided to describe the general nature and level of work expected in this role. While these statements include the essential functions of the job, they are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. As we work as a team, there may be times team members are needed to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities based on business needs.
LI-HF1 #LI-HYBRID
INTRODUCTION
Our mission is to make everyday eating extraordinary for our guests. We create a warm, welcoming, memorable experience with exceptional, personal service. We’re looking for a new team member who strives for excellence and brings positive energy, commitment, and a “can-do” attitude to work every day. We value teamwork and celebrate our successes as a team and will value your contribution!
Added Benefits for choosing The Fresh Market Team:
- Team Member discount up to 40%
- Health, Dental, & Vision insurance available for individual, spouse, partner, and family.
- 401K contribution and match for part-time and full-time team members
- Personal time off and additional time off purchase plans are available
- AND much more!
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Fresh Market currently has an opening for a Category Buyer - Bakery in our Store Support Center (099). The Category Buyer will be responsible for the overall promotion of their category portfolio to maximize consumer appeal and increase the sales and profitability of the business while driving sustainable growth. You will support the department in the creation, development, execution, and financial performance of an assigned category.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Demand planning: Develop SKU-level demand plans by analyzing sales trends, promotions, vendor agreements, and presentation minimums.
- Vendor collaboration: Work with distributors to improve service levels and negotiate product costs, vendor funds, and non-resale goods costs.
- Procurement & allocation: Manage product procurement, allocation, and in-store inventory targets by category.
- Cost accuracy: Ensure cost data accuracy in the database.
- Product lifecycle management: Collaborate with Retail Category Management/Private Label Brands on forecasting new items, transitions, and discontinuations.
- Performance monitoring: Track new product sales and build historical data for future launches.
QUALIFICATIONS
At a minimum, you will need:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- 4-7+ years of Category Management or related experience.
- Deep knowledge and understanding of the grocery business and systems/processes.
- Experience in understanding consumer demand in the fast-paced retail/grocery environment.
- Ability to develop/maintain strong working relationships with peers and cross-functional teams.
- Possesses strong merchandising, product, and marketing skills.
- Demonstrate strong analytical, negotiating, and problem-solving skills.
- Willing and able to travel for trade shows and store trips.
- Flexible and adaptive to changing priorities.
- Able to organize and prioritize workload to meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated skills with MS Office applications.
- Project management skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Demonstrated experience utilizing Nielsen and/or IRI.
- Experience with MicroStrategy.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: Consistent with applicable laws, TFM will make reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and team members, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to TFM. This guiding principle applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring and job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer:
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy and related medical conditions, national origin, genetic information, uniformed service, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal or state law.
The statements in this job description are provided to describe the general nature and level of work expected in this role. While these statements include the essential functions of the job, they are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. As we work as a team, there may be times team members are needed to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities based on business needs.
LI-HF1 #LI-HYBRID
See all 46+ Category Buyer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Category Buyer Jobs
Frame your degree for specialty occupation
H-1B eligibility hinges on proving your role requires a specific degree, not just any bachelor's. Pull the O*NET occupation profile for Buyers and document how your coursework in supply chain, procurement, or business administration directly maps to your day-to-day duties.
Verify your prevailing wage before negotiating
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your location and role level. Run your job title and metro area through the OFLC Wage Search before accepting an offer so you're not negotiating below the threshold that makes sponsorship legally viable.
Target employers with active procurement teams
Retailers, manufacturers, and distributors with dedicated procurement or sourcing departments file LCAs far more routinely than companies where buying is a secondary function. Use Migrate Mate to find employers with verified sponsorship history specifically in procurement and supply chain roles.
Get your PERM timeline into the offer conversation
If you're on F-1 OPT and targeting a green card path, ask during the offer stage whether the employer has filed PERM labor certifications before. PERM for a Category Buyer role requires a recruitment audit proving no qualified U.S. workers were available, which some mid-size procurement teams haven't navigated.
Align your resume to the LCA job description
Your employer files the LCA with a specific job title and duties list. If your resume describes your work differently, USCIS can flag a mismatch during the I-129 review. Make sure your documented experience matches the specialty occupation description the employer intends to certify.
Clarify category scope during the interview process
Category Buyer roles vary widely from direct materials in manufacturing to indirect spend in retail. Roles with narrow category ownership and cross-functional decision-making authority are easier to defend as specialty occupations than broad generalist buying positions, so clarify scope before an employer starts the LCA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Category Buyer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS evaluates whether the position normally requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as supply chain management, business administration, or a related discipline. Category Buyer roles that involve strategic sourcing, vendor negotiations, and category analysis typically meet this bar, especially at mid-to-large employers with formalized procurement functions.
What degree do I need for a Category Buyer to get H-1B sponsorship?
A bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business, finance, or a closely related field is the standard baseline. Some employers also accept degrees in engineering or operations management depending on the category being managed. If your degree is from outside the U.S., a credential evaluation confirming U.S. equivalency strengthens your petition. Unrelated degrees with extensive relevant experience are harder to defend under specialty occupation rules.
Which visa types can Category Buyers use to work in the U.S.?
H-1B is the primary option for most nationalities. Australian citizens can use the E-3 visa, which has a 10,500 annual cap that has never been exhausted and doesn't require a lottery. Chilean and Singaporean nationals may qualify for the H-1B1 visa. TN visa is not available for Buyer roles because the USMCA profession list doesn't include purchasing or procurement positions. EB-2 and EB-3 green card paths are available after establishing several years of employment.
How do I find Category Buyer employers who actively sponsor visas?
Use Migrate Mate to browse Category Buyer roles at employers with verified visa sponsorship history. Employers with active procurement teams in retail, consumer goods, and industrial manufacturing tend to file LCAs regularly for sourcing and buying roles.
Can I switch Category Buyer employers while on H-1B?
Yes. Under H-1B portability, you can start working for a new employer once your new I-129 petition is filed, without waiting for USCIS approval. The new employer must file a fresh LCA and I-129 for your specific role. If your duties or location change significantly, the job description in the new petition needs to reflect that accurately to avoid a request for evidence.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Category Buyer jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.