Taste Testing Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

Category Buyer/Manager - Private Label Packaged Food

Location: Pearland, TX (In Office)

Pay Range

$130,000 - $500,000+ total compensation

This is not a title-based range.
It is a capability-based range.

Compensation Philosophy

• $130k-$200k:Proven category manager, strong executor
• $200k-$300k:High-performing category owner, trusted decisionmaker
• $400k-$500k+:Rare contributor who consistently drives outsized financial impact

The Role

Buc-ee's is hiring a Category Manager, Private Label Packaged Food, to own and grow Buc-ee's private label packaged food categories.

This role sits at the intersection of category strategy, analytics, pricing, merchandising, supplier relationships, and commercialization for private label packaged food categories.

You will not just analyze performance. You will own category outcomes and drive decisions that materially impact revenue, margin, product quality, customer experience, and brand standards.

What You'll Be Responsible For

• Serve as the product owner and subject matter expert for assigned private label packaged food categories, with accountability for product lifecycle management, product quality, brand standards, and ongoing performance.
• Creating and developing a long-term plan and ongoing strategy for private label packaged food categories
• Own category performance: sales, margin, pricing, assortment, product development, brand standards, and execution
• Buildlong-term private label category strategy and annual operating plans
• Leadpricing strategy, competitive positioning, assortment planning, and private label portfolio optimization
• Identify and closecategory opportunity gaps across assortment, pricing, product development, and portfolio performance
• Facilitate product evaluation and approval processes, including competitive and category reviews, supplier submissions, taste testing, focus group sessions, packaging reviews, and product approvals.
• LeadSKU rationalization and promotion strategy
• Develop and managesupplier relationships and negotiations that support private label product development, product specifications, packaging requirements, and commercialization expectations
• Hold suppliers accountable to product specifications, quality standards, cost expectations, packaging requirements, timeline commitments, supply expectations, and execution standards
• Lead cross-functional initiatives withmerchandising, operations, IT, Quality Assurance, Legal, Graphic Design, suppliers, and distributors to support private label product launch readiness, in-store execution, and post-launch performance
• Project management which will include developing project plans, processes, timelines, and launch milestones for private label packaged food initiatives
• Translate data intoclear operational decisions
• Conduct field visits to improvestore-level execution
• Buildexecutive-level reporting and decision support

Who This Role Is For

This role is for high judgment operators who:

• Are comfortableowning decisions, not just analysis
• Think strategically aboutcategory growth and profitability
• Communicate insights to executiveswithout noise
• Care aboutresults more than titles

Relevant experience in packaged food categories, private label, and product development is strongly preferred.

Category experience is valuable, but high capability operators who learn quickly can succeed here.

Required Capabilities

• Advanced Excel skills (non-negotiable)
• Strong experience working withlarge retail or operational datasets
• Experience buildingpricing, assortment, or category strategy
• Data visualization experience (Tableau, MicroStrategy, or similar)
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Ability to managecomplex projects and multiple priorities

Additional Preferred Capabilities

• Experience in packaged food categories, private label, product development, or related consumable product categories
• Strong understanding of private label food product development, including commercialization, packaging, supplier engagement, product lifecycle management, and project execution.
• Strong judgment in assessing product quality, sensory attributes, customer appeal, value, packaging, brand fit, and category relevance.
• Ability to translate customer insights, category performance, sales trends, competitive analysis, supplier capabilities, and financial objectives into actionable private label priorities.
• Practical understanding of food safety, quality standards, product specifications, packaging and labeling requirements, demand planning, and compliant commercialization.

Education & Experience

• BA/BS + 2-4 years relevant experience

or

• Master's degree + 1-2 years relevant experience

We value capability and judgment over pedigree.

Benefits

25 days PTO (use it, cash it, or roll it)
Medical, Dental, Vision
401(k) with 100% match up to 6%
Long-term growth and advancement opportunities

This is an in-office role. Remote work is not available.