Director, Category Management - Food & Beverage
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- Nov 12, 2018 Post Date
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- HIL00KDZ Requisition #
Hilton Supply Management (HSM) uses their expertise to forecast and proactively manage our property’s supply chains, so hotel employees can focus on what’s important – the guest experience. With more than 6,000 hotels in our program (including over 1,500 non-Hilton-branded hotels), HSM drives massive economies of scale and negotiates competitive contracts with industry-leading suppliers – ensuring direct savings on the products their hotel partners use most.
What will I be doing?
As the Director of Category Management, Food & Beverage (F&B) you will be responsible for ensuring that the corporation is in a cost competitive position on F&B products and categories. You will design, develop and execute multinational category strategies, negotiation plans, sourcing events and category distribution arrangements. Initiating, negotiating and awarding contracts/agreements and handling distribution channels for Hilton Supply Management (HSM) serviced properties. You will build positive relationships with F&B suppliers and develop strategic partnerships and business plans to grow HSM spend and revenue. You and your team, will provide category insights, identify meaningful trends, and develop and propose recommendations to strengthen the strategic planning of the Brands and other Hilton functional areas. You will drive and support a variety of business initiatives including Brand strategies, Corporate Responsibility initiatives and HSM priorities in a proactive manner aimed at maintaining a competitive advantage.
- Execute strategies and directions for procuring F&B products/related categories best suited for Managed, Franchised and Group Purchasing Organization hotels, evaluating efforts to guarantee the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization.
- Direct the development and administration of F&B supplier relationships, including understanding the overall supplier landscape and individual supplier capabilities.
- Conduct effective management of third party partners, including identifying primary and secondary suppliers to meet or exceed business goals and developing specifications for, negotiating and monitoring quality and cost of services.
- Communicate the strategic direction and lead its implementation as well as report results of Hilton’s F&B initiatives to all internal partners.
- Analyze complete financial data to build and execute strategic initiatives to improve the success of the business.
- Stay abreast of both federal- and state-related regulatory and compliance issues and provide insights to improve overall company performance.
- Provide mentorship to departmental team members in the performance of their duties, such as contract negotiations, alternate supplier evaluations, establishing work priorities and achieving management objectives.
We believe the success in this role will demonstrate itself through the following attributes and skills:
- Technical understanding of F&B industry, products, production and distribution
- Specific knowledge of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage industry and ability to develop a comprehensive beverage procurement program
- Technical understanding of applicable product specifications and compliance requirements
- Knowledge of global, regional and local supply chain and the fundamental and technical factors that influence them as well as economics associated with commodities, raw materials and packaging
- Ability to analyze departmental financial data as required in order to make strategic and tactical decisions
- Ability to lead change, resolve conflicts and foster collaborative relationships within teams while maintaining a high level of professionalism and integrity
- Conscientious individuals who display discretion and confidentiality regarding sensitive information
- Take initiative to identify, prioritize and implement all elements required for team to fulfill responsibilities in keeping with core strategic goals
- Solve problems effectively and creatively, including ability to effectively address any issues in collaboration with others and to proactively identify and prevent potential problems
- Ability to evaluate and find creative opportunities from a strategic perspective; including developing, prioritizing and implementing plans to meet organization’s overall strategic goals
- Budget development and management skills, including the ability to track expenses against commitments, set priorities for funding, and develop annual budgets
- Knowledge of business mathematics, including calculating percentage changes and averages/weighted averages; working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including manipulating basic spreadsheets
- A self-starter that can work independently and lead the independent work of others; including recognizing the need for involvement of other teams/peers and capability to effectively facilitate that collaboration
To fulfill this role successfully, you must possess the following minimum qualifications and experience:
- BA/BS Bachelor's Degree OR High School Diploma/GED with at least ten (10) years of Procurement, Food and Beverage, or Hospitality-related experience
- Six (6) years in procurement buying
- Four (4) years developing and leading strategies for alcoholic beverages
- Two (2) years of experience managing or leading a team
It would be advantageous in this position for you to demonstrate the following capabilities and distinctions:
- MA/MS Master’s Degree
- Hospitality industry experience, specifically within Operations and Supply Management
- Experience and in-depth knowledge of F&B industry procurement and/or category management
Hilton is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For nearly a century, Hilton has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. Hilton is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Our vision “to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality” unites us as a team to create remarkable hospitality experiences around the world every day. And, our amazing Team Members are at the heart of it all!
