Manager, Category Leadership

Your Opportunity as the Manager, Category Leadership

The primary responsibility of this position is to lead in the development of key components of JM Smucker’s Category Leadership capabilities for the Sweet Baked Snacks category to deliver Smucker & Category business results. Leads in the development of Category specific or retail-oriented insights and Category Leadership materials across multiple functions. The position is expected to be the go-to category expert for Sweet Baked Snacks, responsible for providing in-depth category, retail, consumer and shopper expertise.

Location: Chicago, IL

Work Arrangements: Hybrid - onsite a minimum of 2 days per week; maybe more as business need requires

In this role you will:

Develop Category Leadership Growth Driver Strategies, Initiatives and Content at a national level

• Develops Category Leadership Plans / Growth Driver category roadmaps of compelling category strategies that drive the category’s future growth potential

• Leads / Develops 4P Guiding Principles  

• Provides national level thought leadership, maintains Category Knowledge Estate

• Collaborates and influences across the commercial organization (Marketing, Insights, Growth, R&D, Field Category, Sales)

• Builds Category selling stories at a national level to be seamlessly executed at the customer level by working directly with field category on a regular basis. 

• Requires a high level of cross functional collaboration and storytelling with data skills

Develop Shopper Centric Insights 

• Identifies, builds and executes shopper learning plans in concert with JMS Shopper Insights team.

• Develops Shopper centric insights analytics on a national scale

• Leverages available data and insight resources to identify and create new insights and category opportunities

Customer Team Engagement

• Collaborates with Marketing, Sales & Category Leadership teams to translate and disseminate JM Smucker Thought Leadership with our key customers.

• Provide category consultation at internal and external meetings to provide context, direction, and guidance regarding potential actions

• Feeds back retailer and commercial team learnings to JM Smucker & business areas

Other

• Provides project support and resolves category issues, as needed

• Identifies requirements for category management tool development and data support systems

The Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree

• 6+ years in Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) industry

• 3+ years Shopper Insights or Category Management experience

• Strong story telling with data skills

• Strong communication skills (verbal and written)

• Strong technical skills in Excel, Power Point, Circana or AC Nielsen (POS and Panel)

• Strong computer and analytic skills

• Proficient in leveraging Syndicated and Panel Data

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role (not required):  

• MBA

• Experience in customer-facing and/or execution

• Experience working cross functionally in a headquarter environment

• Proficient in leveraging Retailer Club Card Data

• 3rd Party partnership and data analysis (RichMix, Mintel, Kantar)

Compensation range: $112,000 - $163,900

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