Bashas' Director of Meat & Seafood Category Purchasing - Chandler, AZ

Director, Meat & Seafood

Bashas' is a family-owned, regional grocer that operates in Arizona, New Mexico and serves four Tribal Nations under five well-known brands including Bashas', Food City, AJ's Fine Foods, Eddie's Country Store, and Bashas' Din supermarkets. Founded in 1932, Bashas' has a rich history of serving Arizona families with quality products and great customer service. With more than 110 grocery stores, Bashas' is one of the largest employers in the state and we are committed to nourishing the communities we serve through purposeful partnerships and giving centered around our vision and purpose of changing the way we eat one plate at a time.

Shared values led Bashas' to join The Raley's Companies in 2021 and the partnership has enhanced our core business through technological advancements, shared learning, leadership development and new offerings. With more than 21,000 team members, we are united by a higher purpose: to deliver quality offerings, exceptional service, and to do right by our people, communities, and planet.

Whether through our commitment to nutrition and wellness or Bashas' legacy of giving back over $100 million to local communities, we strive to empower customers with transparency, education, and access to fresh, affordable, and nourishing food. We're looking for the same kind of passionate people to join our team, grow with us and share our purpose.

Position Overview

Are you a proven leader in fresh protein categories who knows how to drive results in a competitive retail environment? As Director, Meat & Seafood, you'll lead the strategy, performance, and execution of two of the most critical categories in grocery retail.

This role blends commercial leadership, deep category expertise, and people development. You'll own buying, sourcing, pricing, merchandising, and promotions for Meat and Seafood, partnering closely with Store Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing, and key suppliers to deliver sales growth, margin improvement, and an exceptional customer experience.

This role requires occasional travel to store locations, supplier meetings, trade shows, and competitor tours.

What You'll Do

• Lead enterprise-wide strategy for Meat & Seafood, driving sales, margin, and market share
• Own assortment planning, pricing strategy, space allocation, and merchandising execution
• Direct buying and sourcing activities; negotiate costs, ad funding, and promotional programs
• Build and manage strong supplier partnerships; oversee quality, service levels, and scorecards
• Develop and execute promotional and advertising strategies that drive sell-through and profitability
• Analyze category performance vs. budget and competitors; identify and act on opportunities
• Partner cross-functionally with Store Operations, Supply Chain, Replenishment, and Marketing
• Maintain strong store awareness through regular store visits and field engagement
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of four (4), including Category Managers and merchandising partners.

What You Bring

Experience & Background

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of retail grocery meat and seafood management, including buying and merchandising
• 5+ years of people leadership experience
• Strong background in fresh protein sourcing, pricing, and supplier negotiation
• Experience working with complex distribution systems and vendor networks

Skills & Strengths

• Strong financial, analytical, and negotiation skills
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate insights into action
• Confident communicator who influences across all levels
• Results-driven, customer-focused, and comfortable in a fast-paced environment
• Passion for developing people and building high-performing teams

Perks & Benefits

• Competitive compensation, paid weekly
• 10% annual incentive eligibility
• Paid vacation, sick days and holidays
• 401K Program, including company contributions and matching funds
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance for yourself and eligible dependents
• Family leave
• 10% discount on groceries
• Employee discounts on event/sports tickets, gym memberships, mobile phone plans, etc.
• Tuition Reimbursement for qualified courses
• Scholarship opportunities for continued education
• Dependent Care
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (free financial, legal, and mental health services)