Search Jobs

Company Overview Multi-site, vertically integrated food manufacturing organization serving retail, foodservice, and private label customers across the United States. With significant annual revenue and a growing national footprint, the company operates multiple production facilities throughout the Midwest and is recognized for delivering high-quality fresh and processed protein products. Our culture emphasizes accountability, collaboration, operational excellence, and data-driven decision-making.

Position Summary The Product Manager will provide strategic and financial leadership for a designated protein category, with initial focus on a high-volume processed segment. This role owns end-to-end category performance, including pricing strategy, margin optimization, assortment planning, innovation pipeline, and cross-functional execution. Acting as the subject matter expert for the assigned portfolio, the Product Manager partners closely with Sales, FP&A, Operations, Planning, and Quality to drive revenue growth, improve profitability, and maintain supply-demand alignment. This is a high-visibility role responsible for influencing commercial strategy and operational priorities.

Category Strategy & Financial Performance 

• Deliver fiscal-year revenue and margin objectives aligned to budget.
• Develop and execute category-level pricing, assortment, and portfolio strategies.
• Own profit optimization levers, including mix management, cost modeling, and yield performance.
• Monitor market dynamics, competitive positioning, and customer requirements to inform strategic decisions.

Pricing & Trade Management 

• Lead daily, weekly, and seasonal pricing strategies to maximize margin and market share.
• Partner with commercial leadership to review and approve pricing actions and trade agreements.
• Support annual RFP processes and customer assortment expansion initiatives.

Inventory & Supply Alignment 

• Manage inventory strategy across fresh, frozen, and processed formats.
• Address distressed inventory through coordinated sales and production initiatives.
• Guide planning teams on seasonal builds, capacity utilization, and production mix decisions.
• Monitor and mitigate supply-demand imbalances and service-level risks.

Financial Modeling & Analytics 

• Partner with FP&A and Operations to build and maintain break-even and contribution models.
• Utilize financial insights to drive pricing, inventory, and sales strategy adjustments.
• Leverage syndicated and internal data sources to assess performance trends and identify growth opportunities.

Cross-Functional Leadership 

• Serve as primary product contact for the Sales organization, providing guidance on specifications, costing, inventory availability, and lead times.
• Collaborate with Operations and Quality to ensure adherence to product specifications and yield standards.
• Establish and refine cross-departmental workflows to improve efficiency and clarity of ownership.
• Provide ongoing strategic guidance to commercial teams through regular performance updates and action plans.

Customer & Market Engagement 

• Support key customer relationships within the assigned category as needed.
• Participate in product reviews to evaluate specification compliance and operational execution.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends and emerging opportunities within the protein sector.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, or related discipline required; MBA preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in product management, category management, brand management, or food manufacturing.
• Prior experience in protein, meat processing, or CPG environments strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated P&L ownership and margin management experience.
• Strong analytical skills with experience leveraging syndicated and internal data platforms.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP or similar) preferred.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.