Specialist, COP (Center of Plate)

We Deliver the Goods:Competitive pay and benefits, including Day 1 Health & Wellness Benefits, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401K Employer Matching, Education Assistance, Paid Time Off, and much moreGrowth opportunities performing essential work to support America's food distribution systemSafe and inclusive working environment, including culture of rewards, recognition, and respectPosition Purpose:The Center of Plate (COP) Specialist is a high-impact, growth-driving procurement expert responsible for sourcing, pricing, and managing protein categories that fuel revenue expansion and margin performance and margin optimization. In a fast-growing foodservice distribution company, this role goes beyond transactional buying—it requires strategic market insight, entrepreneurial thinking, and strong cross-functional collaboration.The COP Specialist plays a critical role in scaling the business by ensuring competitive cost positions, expanding differentiated product offerings, strengthening supplier partnerships, and enabling the Sales team to profitably win new business and grow existing business.Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:Strategic Sourcing for GrowthDevelop agile sourcing strategies across beef, pork, poultry, seafood, lamb, veal, and value-added proteins.Actively monitor commodity markets and proactively manage risk through forward buys, contract programs, or alternative sourcing.Identify emerging trends (premium cuts, portion-controlled programs, sustainable proteins, specialty offerings) to expand portfolio and differentiate in the troduce new, trend-forward protein programs that drive profitable sales growth.Negotiate pricing, incentives, volume programs, and growth-based supplier agreements.Margin & Profit OptimizationDrive category profitability through cost control, strategic pricing input, and rebate optimization.Develop and leverage strong supplier relationships that unlock rebates, exclusives and innovation.Partner with Finance and Sales Leadership on pricing strategies that balance competitiveness with margin integrity.Analyze yield, specs, and pack sizes to improve landed cost efficiency.Sales Partnership & Market ResponsivenessDemonstrates the ability to understand and meet the needs of customers; both internal and external. Acts with integrity; is patient, polite and helpful when obtaining information from and providing information and solutions to customers.Serve as a strategic partner to Sales—supporting customer bids, large chain opportunities, and growth accounts.Provide real-time market intelligence to Sales to strengthen customer conversations.Provide rapid response to customer opportunities and bid requests.Develop promotional programs and limited-time offerings, in partnership with Marketing Manager and Sales, to stimulate revenue ventory & Supply Chain AgilityMaintain optimal inventory levels to support rapid growth without excessive working capital exposure.Ensure high service levels with optimized inventory turns that ensure sell through of products.Reduce shrink, spoilage and price discounting through disciplined forecasting and turnover management.Collaborate with Operations to maintain cold chain integrity and best-in-class service levels.Supplier Relationship Management Build long-term partnerships with key protein suppliers focused on growth, reliability, and innovation.Evaluate supplier performance based on quality, fill rate, service, and cost competitiveness.Identify opportunities for exclusivity or private-label programs to enhance brand Teamwork and CollaborationActively participates as a team member toward the completion of goals, taking actions that build productive team relationships within and across departments, and results in high quality team output; works and cooperates with others to meet or exceed team objectives.Supports sales team through demonstration and education on COP products. Functions as a team member within the department and cross-functions, as required, and performs any duty assigned to best serve the company.

Created: 2026-03-04