Category Manager (GTA)

Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions is seeking a Category Manager to own the Canadian insight engine, turning retailer POS, syndicated data, shopper research, and internal performance data into clear recommendations for Sales, Trade Marketing, Product Marketing, and leadership.

You will analyze data from Scintilla/Retail Link, Nielsen, Circana, and other sources, and develop analytics to support sell-in, sell-through, and omnichannel performance. Travel within Canada/US will be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in business-related field.
• 4+ years analytics, category management, insights, or sales operations in CPG or national retailer.

Responsibilities

• Provide standard Canadian reporting and enhance deliverables.
• Analyze POS data and insights from Nielsen, Circana, and other sources.
• Partner with sales to develop sell-in and sell-through analytics.
• Support eCommerce and omnichannel performance reporting and analysis.
• Distribute category and shopper insights across internal teams.
• Develop insights to support selling stories, reviews, and leadership presentations.
• Assist sales/marketing with promotion assessment.
• Investigate business issues using sales data to identify root causes and recommendations.
• Support category/assortment and competitive tracking initiatives.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Self-starter

Project management

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Statistics/Analytics, Marketing, or related field

Tools

Scintilla/Retail Link

Nielsen

Circana

Numerator

dunnhumby

Stackline

MS Suite

Job description

Since 1948, Vileda has helped millions of households around the world keep their homes sparkling clean. Our durable, high-quality products – from microfiber cloths to innovative mops – stand for quality and sustainability. We make cleaning more efficient and environmentally friendly.

The Category Manager owns the insight engine that helps our team make better commercial decisions faster. They drive business growth by developing and maintaining multiple internal and external business relationships to support the overall Canadian business and FHP cross-functional teams. This role turns retailer POS, syndicated data, shopper research, and internal performance data into clear recommendations that help Sales, Trade Marketing, Product Marketing, and leadership grow category share, improve customer plans, and identify future growth opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Provide standard Canadian reporting while continuously enhancing the suite of deliverables based on internal team and customer feedback.
• Analyze and summarize POS data and key insights from Scintilla/Retail Link, Nielsen, Circana, and other data sources.
• Partner with the commercial team to develop sell-in and sell-through analytics.
• Support eCommerce and omnichannel performance reporting and analysis.
• Oversee the regular distribution of category and shopper insights to internal teams.
• Develop insights and recommendations to support selling story, customer line reviews, business reviews, and Category 101 and present externally with confidence and persuasion.
• Assist the sales and marketing functions with pre-to-post promotion assessment.
• Investigate business issues on an ad-hoc basis using sales data with problem-solving tactics to identify root causes and provide recommendations.
• Support innovation and competitive tracking initiatives by providing guidance on category, segment, and item assortment and performance.

Qualifications

• Ability to work from own home office in the Greater Toronto Area and travel as business needs require (customer meetings, business reviews, market visits, and industry events within Canada and the United States).
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Statistics/Analytics, Marketing, or another relevant field preferred.
• 4+ years of experience in analytics, category management, insights, or sales operations within a CPG company or national retailer such as Walmart, Amazon, Canadian Tire, Loblaws, and/or Home Depot.
• Experience working with third-party data or insights supplier such as Nielsen, Circana, Numerator or dunnhumby preferred. Familiarity with customer portals and analytics tools such as Scintilla/Retail Link and/or Stackline. Advanced MS Suite proficiency.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights, business recommendations, and clear, compelling presentations.
• Can communicate with confidence in a clear, concise, and professional manner across all levels of the organization.
• Highly motivated self-starter who can work independently while effectively collaborating across cross-functional teams.
• Ability to manage complex projects and deliver results efficiently while maintaining alignment with business priorities.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing market conditions and business needs, responding with urgency to support evolving strategies and priorities.

The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Freudenberg Group is a privately held global organization headquartered in Germany. With a presence in 60 countries and a workforce exceeding 50,000 employees, the Freudenberg Group operates across 40 distinct market segments and generates annual sales of more than €11 billion. Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions (FHCS), also known as Freudenberg Household Products (FHP) in North America, is a company of the Freudenberg Group and consists of two business areas: the consumer business and the professional applications business. In both segments, we drive innovation for cleaning systems, household and laundry care products. In fiscal year 2024, we achieved sales of more than 1.3 billion euros. As part of a family-run group of companies with a history spanning over 175 years, at FHCS we develop products that make places cleaner – and life a little easier. We have a passion for cleaning that drives everything we do.

With our two business divisions, Consumer and Professional, we have a powerful brand portfolio. Since 1948, we have been expanding continuously and are now represented in 35 countries with the products of our nine brands. In the U.S., O-Cedar is our established consumer brand, while in Canada, it’s known as Vileda. Our professional product line is marketed under the Vileda Professional brand.

Our company culture is based on six core principles that shape our everyday work:

• Multicultural & International: Our teams are placed in over 30 countries. We bring diverse perspectives from around the globe and form an environment which fosters innovation & success.
• Caring & Belonging: Our organization is supportive, valuing and including everyone. We nurture this sense of belonging and care about each employee.
• Co-Creative & Collaborative: Collaboration is at the heart of our Culture. We believe in co-creating solutions by harnessing the collective Creativity, Curiosity & Expertise of our team.
• Achieving & Impacting: Our achiever mindset propels us to overcome challenges and consistently reach new levels. Our actions and initiatives are driven by a desire to create positive, lasting impact.
• Open & Approachable: We foster open communication and approachability. Our leaders value transparency across the organization, encouraging the sharing of ideas freely.
• Acknowledging & Encouraging: We appreciate the unique strengths that everyone brings to our organization. We encourage our employees to grow and achieve their personal and professional goals.

At Freudenberg, we believe that our employees are our greatest asset. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and professional growth. From competitive salaries and health insurance to professional development opportunities and work-life balance initiatives, we are committed to providing a rewarding and supportive work environment. Join us and be part of a team that values your contributions and invests in your future.