Sr. Manager, Category Growth (Bi-lingual Chinese)

Founded in 1888, Lee Kum Kee, a Hong Kong-based global food company, specializes in creating condiments and sauces that promote Chinese cuisine worldwide. With more than 200 products to choose from, Lee Kum Kee takes the mystery out of cooking authentic and delicious Asian foods in the comfort of your kitchen. Lee Kum Kee is committed to providing authentic and innovative condiments and sauces featuring the highest quality ingredients. Armed with a unique management culture, stringent quality control, superb and innovative products, coupled with the century-long brand reputation, Lee Kum Kee has achieved unanimous recognition and won numerous prestigious awards. 

Lee Kum Kee (USA) Inc., a division of Lee Kum Kee International Holdings Ltd., has its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Southern California with more than 300 employees. We are looking for the best and brightest talents to join our company and work together to bring the next level of success!

BENEFITS

• Medical, dental, life insurance covered by the company
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Two (2) weeks vacations
• Ten (10) paid holidays
• Hybrid work schedule available after 90 days

Position Summary 

Accountable for the category growth and portfolio development for the Americas Zone; ensuring an integrated business plan to deliver N5Yr objectives and all product category penetration targets. 

Essential Functions

Category Strategy formulation and Portfolio Management 

• Shape, inspire and develop the long-term category vision and responsible for related category growth KPIs 
• Identify key consumer/diner targets in both retail and foodservice business segments with a futuristic perspective.  Translate data and insights to category strategic initiatives and innovation pipeline development that deliver sustainable category growth and build brand saliency
• Develop, write, test and optimize consumer-centric product proposition and marketing concepts that capture a compelling relevant promise to grow penetration, market share position and stronger consumer engagement
• Build, shape/streamline, deliver effective category portfolio with the collaboration of internal functional experts

Communication Development 

• Develop Americas Zone’s category playbooks including product portfolio factbook, communication kits, and packaging/label to build consistency across all market segments, adapting from global category playbooks
• Develop launch/marketing campaigns for assigned categories including content creation as well as activation planning and implementation
• Partnering with marketing communication team to ensure product stories and contents are deployed consistently across all market segments
• Partnering with local sales teams to implement marketing campaigns, events and promotion programs

Innovation & Renovation  

• Lead Zone NPD development in line with global innovation process; from insight generation, ideation to product business case development, financial forecasting, pricing, P&L structure and recommended in-market execution strategy with close partnership with Finance, R&D, manufacturing, local sales and channel marketing teams and other cross functions

Marketing Community Representation 

• Work closely with channel marketing team to define and achieve the common goal of the categories.   Drive the buy-in and engagement of the sales channels facilitate smooth roll-out
• Represent Americas Zone in the Global Marketing community for the respective categories to ensure needs are heard and supported.  Share global best practices for local consideration

Effective Resources Management and P&L Responsibility

• Working with Finance to develop category P&L and ensure P&L targets are met
• Control A&P spending allocated to respective category within budget and maximize cost efficiency of investments with clear measurement scheme
• Support sales channels in planning and implementing category marketing research programs related to building “physical availability”

COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge and experience in new product development and category management
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, solid “CAN-DO” attitude 
• Demonstrate judgement to define category development towards company goal 
• Pursue innovation and change with a mindset of continuous improvement
• Excellent leadership skills to drive non-reporting teams to work toward the common goal
• Effective communication and influencing skills, including presentation and writing skills
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and be flexible in work schedule 
• A team player to drive company goal and core value
• Willing to travel as needed

SUPERVISORY RESPONBILITIES

This position does not have immediate supervisory role yet will need to manage subordinates when the team expands as the business continues to grow.  Supervisory role will include but not limit to the performance management and hiring of the employees within that function.

REQUIRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor degree holder in marketing or business administration.  MBA is strongly preferred. 
• Minimum 9 years of sales/marketing experience in reputable FMCG food/beverage organizations with 2 years in managerial position
• Exceptional ability to develop and cultivate strategic relationships
• Strong presentation, organization, and time management skills
• Good verbal and written communication; ability to communicate clearly, accurately and with impact
• Ability to organize, set priority, manage and measure work 
• Ability to make timely decisions and handle multiple projects and meet all deadlines
• Ability to work within an integrated operating enterprise, coach peers and teams in executing complex programs, deal with ambiguity and conflict management
• Ability to motivate others, build effective teams, direct others 
• Proficient in MS Office including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Good understanding of financials and budgeting process 

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Fluent in English and Chinese is strongly preferred 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSE, REGISTRATIONS

None 

TRAVEL

This position requires up to 25% travel; most travel is outside the local area and overnight. Some of the travel may be international. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel, taste foods; and reach with hands and arms. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

It is Lee Kum Kee’s policy to seek and employ the most qualified persons in all jobs in a manner which will ensure equal employment opportunity as well as administer personnel actions in a manner as to not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability or protected veteran status. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.