Associate Category Manager

Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 86,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mars University

Company bonus

Learning & development

Job summary

Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates in Bolton, Ontario, is seeking an Associate Category Manager for Pet Nutrition. You will analyze category performance, collaborate with retail partners, and translate insights into actionable strategies.

You’ll use Excel, PowerPoint, and tools like JDA ProSpace to plan shelves, monitor promotions, and support annual strategic planning. This role blends analytics with relationship management and cross-functional teamwork.

Qualifications

• University degree in Business or a related field.
• 1–3 years CPG industry experience with grocery/drug/mass channels.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to translate data into strategies.
• Ability to build relationships and influence decisions.
• In-store or Customer experience and understanding of category solutions.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Category Management experience is a plus.
• Nielsen data analysis and Numerator insights experience.
• JDA ProSpace or similar shelf management knowledge.
• Retailer POS systems experience is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key retail partners.
• Monitor performance and address issues promptly to maintain high standards.
• Establish reputation as a category thought leader.
• Conduct ongoing category analysis and derive actionable insights.
• Provide shelf planograms for various store formats using JDA ProSpace.
• Participate in annual strategic planning with retail partners.
• Ensure compliance with retailer policies, industry regulations, and quality standards.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Relationship management

In-store experience

CPG knowledge

Data interpretation

Shelf tools knowledge

Education

University degree in Business or related field

Tools

Nielsen data analysis

Numerator insights

JDA ProSpace

POS systems

Job description

Job Description:

The Associate Category Manager in the Pet Nutrition Business is accountable for the understanding and analysis of the category and providing objective, strategic, and tactical category insights and recommendations to retail partners. You will be actively involved in identifying opportunities, including analyzing sales performance, promotional activities, item assortment, and shelving strategy and execution. You will also provide best-in-class examples and insights from the global category community and other available assets

You will be responsible for external communication with key retail partners, supporting ad hoc requests, ongoing reporting, strategy reviews, shelf planning and creation, and insight generation using current tools and other industry resources. You will report to the Team Lead.

This role is based in Bolton with regular in-office collaboration expected. Flexibility is a key enabler—empowering associates to make choices that support both business outcomes and personal needs, including remote work.

What are we looking for?

• University degree in Business or a related field
• Minimum 1-3 years CPG industry experience with knowledge of grocery/drug/mass channels
• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to interpret data from a mix of data sources, translate insights into relevant strategies and tactics (actions/initiatives) and execute with retail partners in a clear, simple and engaging way
• Ability to build effective relations and influence decisions, having the confidence to use data to reinforce your opinions
• In-store and/or Customer experience and understanding of how to develop engaging and actionable category solutions
• Advanced Excel skills and PowerPoint skills
• Category Management experience an asset
• Nielsen data analysis and Numerator insights experience an asset
• Shelf Management software (JDA ProSpace or similar) knowledge an asset
• Retailer POS systems experience an asset

What will be your key responsibilities?

Customer Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key retail partners
• Monitor performance and address issues promptly to maintain high standards.
• Establish reputation as a category thought leader

Analysis & Planogram Planning

• Conducting ongoing analysis of the category and support in deriving insights from the analysis
• Develop recommendations to support category growth
• Leverage local and global insights and best practices to provide actionable strategies for retail partners
• Conduct assortment analysis to provide recommendations on items not carried by the retailer that perform well in the marketplace
• Draw planograms for various store formats and sizes to drive shelf quality and availability excellence, leveraging JDA

Strategic Planning and Execution

• Participate in annual strategic planning with retail partners
• Ensure compliance with retailer policies, industry regulations, and quality standards

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.

• Join apurpose drivencompany, wherewe’restriving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

• A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between the below range CAD 86,444.00 - CAD 113,458.00. Please note: This job posting is for an existing vacancy. AI is used as a supporting tool in our recruitment process.