Category Manager

PURPOSE STATEMENT

The primary role of this position is providing insights-based recommendations to drive profitable growth for Rich Products’ Consumer Brands Division (CBD), its categories, and retail accounts.

Highly cross-functional, the Category Manager regularly collaborates with Rich’s Sales and Brand Marketing teams, other Insights team members, and broker partners.  Responsibilities focus on mining and analyzing consumption, shopper loyalty, and other primary and secondary data sources to synthesize insights, develop actionable strategic and tactical recommendations, and build compelling selling stories that drive long term sales and profit growth for Rich’s and our customers.

The goal is to establish Rich’s with customers as the supplier of choice for value creation and thought leadership across all categories in which we compete

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/OUTCOMES

Syndicated Data Management and Reporting
Serve as CBD’s and Rich’s subject matter expert for syndicated data and reporting.  Gain and maintain alignment between Marketing and Sales on the structure and elements of CBD’s syndicated data and strategy to ensure data integrity and maximize internal knowledge and value to our customers.
Create and maintain monthly syndicated data reports and PowerBI dashboards that monitor category, channel, own brand, and competitive sales, distribution, pricing, promotions, advertising, and market penetration trends and opportunities.
Understand the needs and objectives of CBD Sales and Marketing Leadership and their teams.  Provide insights and analyses that enable them to meet those objectives.
Oversee development and management of CBD’s Insights Library.
Develop the process and lead syndicated data tool training for Sales, Marketing, and Broker team members.
Co-own (with Insights Director) Rich’s syndicated vendor relationships to maximize use of data platforms and other capabilities.
Develop ad hoc reports and presentations as necessary.

Customer Insight Support 
Develop in-depth knowledge of the industry, shoppers, competition, and retail customers. 
Utilize syndicated, internal, and retailer data to proactively analyze, develop, and share category stories to Sales and Marketing which support key initiatives (new item launches, expanded distribution and gap fill opportunities, improved shelf merchandising, seasonal debriefs, new promotional opportunities, threat defense, etc.) that drive sales, market share, and profit.

Customer Relationship Management 
Collaborate with Sales account teams in the development and construction of Insights roadmaps for key customers including scorecards/KPIs, business/category reviews, and key opportunity presentations.  Attend and present at customer meetings as requested by Sales.
Develop strategic category management insights and selling stories that meet retailer objectives, while supporting selling initiatives and growth objectives of the organization.
Collaborate and share findings with broker insights associates to bring more category and consumer knowledge to internal Rich’s associates and our customers.

People Leadership and Development 
Assist Insights Director in mentoring and developing lower-level Insights associates.
In partnership with the Insights Director and Human Resources, coordinate and assist with the orientation and integration of new Insights team members.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in Business or Marketing required.  MBA degree preferred.
5+ years of CPG industry experience, preferably in Food or Beverage.
Previous Insights and/or Category Management experience and understanding of Category Management principles.
Proficient systems knowledge and experience with NielsenIQ Discover and/or Circana (IRI) Unify syndicated POS and household panel data. Experience managing syndicated vendor partnerships with prior contract negotiations experience a plus.
Proficient systems knowledge and experience utilizing data visualization platforms (PowerBI preferred) to build and actively manage business intelligence dashboards and reports.
System knowledge and experience with retailer shopper loyalty data platforms (84.51 Stratum, dunnhumby, Symphony RetailIAI).
Assortment with assortment and pricing optimization tools a plus.
Strong interpersonal skills, a team-first attitude, and proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams (Sales, Marketing, Brokers) to understand customer needs and ability to develop customer relationships.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with proven track record of translating data and facts from various research resources and methodologies into highly visual, compelling stories.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and comfortable presenting in both small and large group formats.
Excellent project and time management skills.  Able to set clear objectives, manage priorities, provide direction and coordinate solution-related activities. 
Deep experience with PowerPoint, Excel, MS Teams.  #CORP123  #LI-RT1