Category Manager (HyVee and Schnucks)

The Category Manager position is responsible for managing category leadership solutions supporting HyVee and Schnucks for the Mars Wrigley Confectionery businesses including Chocolate Candy, Non-Chocolate Candy, Gum, Mints, Seasonal Candy, Snacks and Digital. This role is expected to provide fact and insight-based solutions that drive growth for the category, retailer, and Mars Wrigley. Utilizing shopper insight, opportunity identification and full understanding of products, assortment, pricing, placement, shelving, promotion, and merchandising, this role is the primary insight provider for our categories at HyVee and Schnucks. The key objective of this role is to develop strategic initiatives that lead to marketplace actions for the Confectionery Category. This role will work closely with internal and external partners.

This role is part of the Category Leadership organization and reports to the South-Central Team Lead of Category Leadership. Prioritization and close collaboration with both internal and external partners will be critical to success within this role.

***This is a remote role with potential for up to 25% travel and customer interface. Customers are based in Des Moines, IA and St. Louis, MO. The role could also be based remotely from a hub in Chicago or Minneapolis.

What are we looking for?

• 2 years of experience in Category Management, Sales, or advanced analytics
• Business Analytics skills or experience
• Experience in CPG and/or retail
• The knowledge, skills, and abilities typically acquired through the completion of a Bachelor's degree, or equivalent work experience
• Experience working with syndicated data software (i.e., IRI or Nielsen)
• Experience working in Assortment Planning or Space Management Software (i.e. Apollo, Intercept, JDA, etc.)
• Experience with promotional / non promotional strategy development
• Experience working with Microsoft programs specifically Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to manage cross functional/multi-task projects
• Strong strategic problem-solving skills
• Solid written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities and meet deadlines
• The ability to travel up to 25% of the time
• Successful completion of a drug and background screen

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing and visualizing data using cutting edge tools (MS Power BI, Tableau)
• HyVee and Schnucks Experience and/or foundational knowledge
• Knowledge of emerging retail strategy and technology (Omni-channel)

What will be your key responsibilities?

As the Mars Wrigley Category Contact, this associate will:

• Work collaboratively with external and internal partners to develop and activate growth strategies and tactics for the confectionery category at HyVee and Schnucks.
• Work to lead the team to create and plan category leadership solutions that deliver profitable sales growth for MW and the customer. These solutions should include shopper and category insights focused on products, assortment, placement, shelving, pricing, promotions, and merchandising optimization.
• Where appropriate, manage and deliver against the responsibilities of the Category Captaincy/Advisory process in partnership with HyVee and Schnucks.
• Influence the customer by identifying specific opportunities, lead in research and testing projects to deliver category leadership solutions benefitting both the retailer and the Confectionery Category.
• Be comfortable with, and utilize, best in class category tools and resources to bring solid category insights to the buyer and senior leadership at HyVee and Schnucks. Tools may include, but are not limited to the following: IRI, Nielsen, syndicated and panel database resources, JDA, space management software, Nielsen ASO Incrementality tool, market research findings, etc.
• Influence Annual Account Business Planning, through collaborative partnering with sales team, by providing actionable category insights and solutions that support category leadership objectives for customer, company and category
• Serve as a team resource for Category reporting and scorecarding.
• Serve as a team resource for planogram development and delivery to HyVee and Schnucks.
• Evaluate and monitor all customer category leadership solutions, turn analysis into recommended action and continually improve to be more effective and efficient in executing business building opportunities with the customer.
• Must be able to confidently present to internal and external leadership business partners.

Develop the knowledge and skills to consistently provide quality category support including:

• This role will have the responsibility to lead in the development of key Category Management strategies and initiatives focused on the Chocolate, Non-Chocolate, Gum, Mint, Snacks and Digital Categories.
• The work from this role will heavily influence category and brand strategies for Mars Wrigley at the retailer. The role should be focused on the development of business building recommendations in partnership with the retailer, geared towards not only impacting Mars Wrigley businesses, but also focus on driving growth results for the broader Confectionery categories at HyVee and Schnucks.
• Strategy development sourced from this position should play a key role in influencing decisions tied to in-store merchandising, promotional activity, pricing, and assortment within the retailer. Driving Category growth is the primary goal and should be leveraged to position Mars Wrigley as a powerful Category Management captain/leader with HyVee and Schnucks.
• This role is a technical leader requiring time analyzing data, planogramming, and coordinating the development of key insights and research.
• This is a customer-facing role with regular face to face interactions with the retailer.
• This role is an individual contributor, with a strong impact on the success within the Confectionery Category for HyVee and Schnucks, and Mars Wrigley.
• This role requires a strong fact-based approach and skillset in working with both internal and external stakeholders.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.