Category Development Manager, Retail

Position Title: Category Development Manager, Retail
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Position Location: Toronto HQ
Requisition ID: 31619
Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Category Development of McCain Foods (Canada), the Category Development Manager is responsible for leveraging various data sources and analytical tools to provide support to external and internal customers. This support includes monthly category reviews, assortment, shelving and pricing recommendations and ad-hoc analysis on request from customers. The scope of this role includes two external key customers, Retail Sales and Marketing team on the internal side. This position will bring skills and expertise in data analytics, report creation / presentation and planogram management (including full support of planogram deployment for the key customers). As a member of the Category Leadership team, the CDA will be enabling the Sales team with insights / analytics to deliver McCain's objectives for Canadian Retail business.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Category Leadership and Insights

• Develop and support relationships with the key assigned Retail Customers as Category Vendor Advisor (or Category Captain), establish credibility and set the stage for selling category solutions aligned to McCain strategies and enabling customer business growth.
• Managing the delivery of weekly / monthly reports with commentary to drive action and deliver value for external customers
• Manage monthly and YTD business and drivers reporting to inform the organization on McCain's performance against key consumption metrics
• Conduct quarterly (or monthly) Customer Category reviews for the key or assigned accounts that are based on insights and align to McCain strategies for respective customers
• Identify category development gaps and growth opportunities for key customers, develop customer centric strategies (that align with McCain objectives) and work directly with customers to execute and bring them to life
• Develop and sell-in customer specific assortment, shelf space and promotional strategy solutions to help grow the category and McCain business in key or assigned customers
• Work with the external customer to develop, execute and track all required assortment and planogram changes as per customer timeline and quality standards
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales teams on internal projects where customer or category insights and analytics support is required.

Continuous Improvement

• Continuously improve skills and knowledge in the category development space by participating webinars, conferences and formal training courses.
• Get and maintain the Category Management Association certification and other designations required for external customers.
• Lead internal training sessions to help others in the organization develop analytical skills and effectively use standard reports.
• Cross-train to be able to act as back-up for other Category Leadership team members as needed.
• Advise, support and collaborate with Retail Sales team to develop customer selling stories / decks, technical learning materials.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS:

• Strong relationships based on trust and credibility built with external and internal customers
• Timely delivery of assortment, shelf space and promotional recommendations for the external customer (within their respective cycles) and internal partners
• Delivery of share of shelf to $ share index target for the external customer
• Timely delivery of category insights inputs for the sell-in of customer annual JBP, innovation launches, pricing strategy changes, etc. in partnership with Sales Strategy & Operations team
• Delivery of AOC on target in accordance with KPIs for profitable business growth in Canadian Retail (working together with the rest of the Category Leadership team)
• Strong working relationships with key cross-functional partners in Sales, Marketing, Finance, etc.

KEY QUALIFICATION & EXPERIENCES:

• Minimal Undergraduate degree
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working in CPG
• Preferred 1-2 years of relevant work experience in a customer facing role
• Analytically savvy, fast-learner focused on continuous improvement
• Ability to work independently and contribute to team projects
• Strong working knowledge of Nielsen syndicated data
• Comprehensive experience in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience with Customer POS and shelf management software is a plus
• Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships internally and externally

OTHER

• Key internal relationships: Category Development team, Customer Development teams
• Key external relationships - key customer Category Buyer and their team
• Limited travel; 2-4 domestic trips per year
• Job is primarily performed in a standard office environment (Hybrid)

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
#LI-Hybrid
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
The health and safety of McCain employees and their families has been our number one priority since the start of COVID-19 pandemic. With vaccination restrictions easing across the globe we do not currently require employees to be vaccinated, but we reserve the right to change this mandate in line with health guidance and regulations in each country.
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Job Family: Sales
Division: NA Potato
Department: Category Development - Canada Retail
Location(s): CA - Canada : Ontario : Toronto
Company: McCain Foods (Canada)