Job Description
Job Description
Scope of Position
The Category Manager plays a pivotal role in bridging Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Brokers to drive category growth and profitability within the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. This highly cross-functional role focuses on leveraging category, consumer, and shopper insights to create strategic recommendations that align company goals with customer needs. By delivering actionable insights, this position drives increased sales, optimal product placement, and enhanced customer relationships to achieve a competitive edge at retail.
Reporting To :
Director of Domestic Sales
Responsibilities
Category Strategy and Insights Development :
- Leverage syndicated data sources (e.g., Circana, Nielsen, Panel, and customer-specific loyalty data) to guide category strategies for assigned accounts.
- Develop category strategies and recommendations aligned with customer and company objectives to optimize sales and distribution.
- Analyze post-promotion and display effectiveness, providing actionable recommendations to refine future promotional strategies.
- Provide insights and recommendations to improve depth of distribution, product placement, pricing, and promotional strategies for core items.
Data Analysis and Trend Monitoring :
Address complex business challenges using multiple data sources and analytical tools.Conduct ongoing business performance analysis to identify growth opportunities and corrective actions.Deliver customer-specific insights, competitive analyses, and strategic recommendations during key business meetings, including customer appointments, quarterly business reviews, Broker meetings, and category line reviews.Cross-Functional Collaboration and Tool Development :
Collaborate with senior sales, marketing, and category management teams to align strategies and execute customer initiatives.Create and refine tools and templates to streamline analysis processes and improve output quality for the sales team.Provide ad-hoc business reporting to address time-sensitive questions and support decision-making.Customer and Retail Engagement :
Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with major food and mass retailers.Contribute to customer planning cycles by providing insights into category trends, competitive dynamics, and market opportunities.Lead customer engagements, including assortment planning, space management, pricing, and promotional recommendations.Qualifications
Experience and Skills :
Minimum of 5 years of experience, including 3 years in category management or shopper insights within the CPG industry.Proven ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.Experience in leading category management engagements with major food or mass retailers.Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize diverse data sources into actionable insights.Proficiency in retail merchandising, marketing, and assortment strategies.Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams to deliver business results.Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with a focus on storytelling and influencing.Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment while managing multiple projects and deadlines.Proficiency in data tools, including retailer-specific platforms (e.g., Retail Link), is a plus.Education :
Bachelors degree in Business, Marketing, Data Analytics, or a related field; equivalent work experience will be considered.Additional Competencies :
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.Creative problem-solving and the ability to think strategically.Expertise in planning, project management, and collaborative teamwork.
