Senior Manager, Food & Beverage Category Management

About this role

Senior Manager, Food & Beverage Category Management
Reports To – VP, Category Management
Location – Remote (U.S.) w/ travel up to 25%
Full-Time, Exempt
About Legends Global
Legends Global is the premier partner to the world’s greatest live events, venues, and brands. We deliver a fully integrated solution of premium services that keeps our partners front and center through our white-label approach. Our network of 450 venues worldwide, hosting 20,000 events and entertaining 165 million guests each year, is powered by our depth of expertise and level of execution across every component — feasibility & consulting, owner’s representation, sales, partnerships, hospitality, merchandise, venue management, and content & booking — of world-class live events and venues.
The Legends Global culture is one of respect, ambitious thinking, collaboration, and bold action. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone can be authentic, make an impact, and grow their career. Winning is an everyday thing at Legends Global.
The Opportunity
We are building a centralized Category Management function to transform how Legends Global sources, contracts, and manages the goods and services that power our portfolio of stadiums, arenas, convention centers, theatres, amphitheaters, and attractions. The Senior Manager, Food & Beverage Category Management will own the strategic sourcing lifecycle for all related categories across this diverse portfolio.
This is a high-impact role that requires someone who can navigate a complex operating model where central procurement influences but does not mandate venue-level purchasing decisions. You will develop category strategies, negotiate enterprise agreements, and build supplier partnerships that deliver measurable value—while respecting that each venue operates under unique client requirements and local conditions.
Position Summary
The Senior Manager, Food & Beverage Category Management is a strategic procurement leader responsible for developing and executing comprehensive category strategies across Legends' portfolio of venues globally. This role will drive enterprise-wide procurement excellence across all food and beverage goods, and related services categories supporting our venue operations, concessions programs, premium hospitality experiences, and guest services.
Reporting to the VP of Category Management, this position will aggregate spend, rationalize suppliers, negotiate national contracts, optimize costs, and build strategic supplier partnerships that deliver measurable value to Legends and our venue partners. The Sr. Manager will serve as the subject matter expert for all F&B and Hospitality related procurement activities, partnering closely with operations, finance, culinary teams, and venue leadership to balance cost, quality, innovation, and service delivery.
This is a high-impact role requiring deep category expertise, sophisticated negotiation skills, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to influence stakeholders across a decentralized operating model where venues maintain operational autonomy.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Category Management

• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies for food, beverage, hospitality goods, and related services categories across the Legends portfolio

• Lead spend analysis, market assessments, and total cost of ownership (TCO) evaluations to identify consolidation and optimization opportunities

• Design and implement supplier rationalization initiatives that balance standardization with venue-specific operational requirements

• Build and maintain category roadmaps that align procurement initiatives with broader business objectives and growth strategies

• Partner with culinary leadership and operations teams on menu engineering initiatives that optimize product mix, cost structures, and guest satisfaction

• Establish category performance benchmarks, KPIs, and dashboards to track savings, compliance, supplier performance, and program adoption

Sourcing & Contract Negotiation

• Lead strategic sourcing events (RFIs, RFPs, etc.) for national and regional agreements across all assigned categories

• Negotiate complex, multi-year master agreements and pricing structures that deliver competitive pricing, favorable terms, and operational flexibility

• Structure innovative deal frameworks including volume commitments, rebates, marketing funds, performance incentives, and cost escalation protections

• Develop standardized contract templates, rate or pricing schedules, SLAs, and terms & conditions for F&B and hospitality categories

• Manage contract lifecycle activities including renewals, amendments, price reviews, and supplier performance evaluations

• Build strong supplier partnerships with key broadline distributors (e.g., Sysco, US Foods), center-of-plate providers, produce suppliers, specialty/gourmet vendors, beverage suppliers (alcohol and non-alcohol), and hospitality goods manufacturers

Supplier Relationship Management

• Cultivate strategic relationships with senior leadership at key supplier organizations

• Conduct quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with top-tier suppliers to evaluate performance, address issues, and identify innovation opportunities

• Organize product cuttings, menu tastings, and supplier showcases to introduce new products, trends, and cost-saving alternatives to venue or corporate stakeholders

• Facilitate joint business planning sessions with suppliers to align on growth initiatives, promotional calendars, and supply chain resilience strategies

• Establish supplier scorecards and performance metrics tied to quality, service, delivery, innovation, and value creation

• Resolve escalated supplier issues including product quality concerns, delivery failures, pricing disputes, and service gaps

Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management

• Build consensus and drive adoption of national contracts across a decentralized venue network where mandates are…