Senior Manager-Category Management
$150,000–$150,000 year
On-siteChicago, Illinois, United States
Job Summary
Own the enterprise category management strategy across all brands and channels, translating portfolio priorities into growth plans for key customers. Build and lead a high-performing team of category managers and analysts, setting standards and coaching talent development. Serve as the senior category advisor in top-to-top customer line reviews and joint business planning, presenting fact-based recommendations on assortment, shelf, and pricing. Establish the category insights and reporting framework using syndicated data to provide a trusted view of performance. Lead assortment, distribution, and shelf strategy, including planogram principles and SKU rationalization across the multi-brand mix. Partner with Revenue Growth Management on trade strategy and promotion effectiveness, and collaborate with Sales and Marketing to embed category strategy into selling stories and innovation launches. Direct the integration of newly acquired brands into reporting and insights toolkits while building relationships with retailer category leaders. Drive results through the broker organization by equipping partners to execute category leadership and holding them accountable for objectives. Define and report on category KPIs, bringing forward risks and opportunities that shape commercial decisions.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree
- 8+ years of progressive CPG experience in category management, shopper insights, or commercial strategy
- 2+ years directly leading and developing a team
- Proven track record leading customer-facing category reviews and joint business planning with national retailers (e.g., Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Target, club, grocery, or mass)
- Deep expertise with syndicated data (Circana/IRI or Nielsen) and shopper/panel data
- Experience selecting and managing data and analytics partnerships
- Strong command of assortment and space management tools (e.g., JDA/Blue Yonder, Spaceman, AODR)
- Strong command of the principles of category captaincy
- Demonstrated ability to set strategy and influence at the senior and executive level, both internally and with customers
- Excellent storytelling and executive communication skills
- Willingness to travel to customers as needed
Desired Qualifications
- MBA
- Experience in a multi-brand, high-growth, or post-acquisition environment
- Comfortable with ambiguity and building structure where little exists
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