Job Purpose
The Manager, Category Management is responsible for driving the growth and performance of their assigned menu category. Serving as the primary owner for one category (e.g., Beverage, Bakery, Salads), this role assists in developing strategies that drive guest relevance, transactions, profitability, and growth.
The Director partners closely with Culinary, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Consumer Insights, Finance, Digital, and Data & Analytics to ensure strategy translate into business results. This role is accountable for identifying opportunities that improve category performance and strengthen Panera's competitive position.
Location: This position is based in Newton, MA and requires in-office presence three days per week, transitioning to four days per week, Monday through Thursday, in Weston, MA beginning in July 2027.
Duties & Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of this job include, but are not limited to:
- Category Strategy & Ownership: Define vision, priorities, and innovation for assigned category. Own the profitability and performance of assigned category, ensuring each category contributes to enterprise growth and objectives.
- Business Performance: Monitor and drive performance across sales, transactions using data-driven insights for assigned category.
- Innovation Pipeline: Assist in building business cases and growth plans that support enterprise objectives. Contribute to developing 3-year pipeline, identifying white space opportunities and category expansion opportunities by analyzing market trends, consumer needs, and avenues for business growth.
- Pricing & Value: Support pricing and promotional recommendations, in partnership with Finance, to balance guest value and profitability.
- Consumer Insights: Translate guest, competitive, and market insights into actionable category strategies and growth opportunities.
Qualifications (Education & Experience)
Qualifications include:
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 3-5 years proven experience in marketing strategy, product innovation, campaign management, and cross-functional team collaboration.
- Preference for past experience in restaurant/retail and/or consumer goods industries.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions.
- Creative thinker with a passion for innovation and continuous improvement.
Working Conditions
- Required travel – as needed
- Position requires in-office presence consistent with Panera’s established hybrid work expectations.
Physical Requirements
- While performing this job, the incumbent is regularly required to stand, sit, talk hear & use hands and fingers to operate keyboards
Direct Reports
- N/A
Equal Opportunity Employer: Disabled/Veterans
Competitive Pay $104,942 - $125,930 annually
The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.
Newton Support CenterSkills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field
- 3-5 years of experience in marketing strategy, product innovation, campaign management, and cross-functional collaboration
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions
- Creative thinking with a passion for innovation and continuous improvement
- Experience in restaurant, retail, and/or consumer goods industries
What We Do
Panera began in 1987 as St. Louis Bread Company, a humble community bakery founded with a sourdough starter from San Francisco and a dream of putting a loaf of bread in every arm. While our business has expanded well beyond St. Louis since then, that same sourdough starter is still used in our iconic sourdough bread and the craft of baking bread fresh each day remains at the heart of Panera Bread. Each day, our trained bakers fill our bakery shelves with delicious freshly baked cookies, pastries, bagels, and a range of breads from focaccia to classic baguettes. We believe in serving delicious, freshly prepared, clean food made with carefully selected ingredients that we are proud to serve our own families. Our menu, crafted by chefs and bakers, features classic, comforting dishes, each with an intriguing twist. We respect our planet and take measures to lessen our impacts. We believe in treating people with warmth, kindness, and respect, whether it’s a guest in our cafe or one of our associates. And we believe in helping our local communities, especially in times of need. We’re also focused on improving quality and convenience. With investments in technology and operations, we offer omni-channel access to your Panera favorites – like mobile ordering, catering, and Rapid Pick-Up® for to-go orders, Curbside pick-up and delivery – all designed to make things easier for our guests. Today, Panera operates as both Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co St. Louis Bread Company in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Panera Bread is privately held by JAB Holding Company. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast-casual restaurant platforms in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.® Bagels.
