Category Manager

C.A. Fortune; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO & Sick Days

11 paid company holidays

Floating Holiday

3 months fully paid parental leave

Job summary

C.A. Fortune is seeking a Category Manager to drive analytics, pricing, promotion, and shelf strategies for core initiatives across retailers and channels, with a focus on Albertsons. This role acts as an internal consultant to our sales team and top clients, guiding data-driven decisions for growth.

You will lead advanced analytics, partner with sales, and maintain category management tools to deliver measurable impact. Hybrid work is available between Chicago and Boise with travel 10–20%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; 5+ years in CPG.
• Advanced data storytelling and insights generation.
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint for data-driven storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement an advanced BI strategy aligned with the Insights Pillar.
• Lead reporting, retailer category reviews, and performance analyses for key clients.
• Leverage SPINS, Nielsen, IRI, Mintel and other sources to uncover opportunities.
• Develop category management insights and selling stories for retailers and clients.
• Present business reviews and strategic recommendations to clients and retailers.

Skills

Data storytelling

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree preferred

Tools

SymphonyAI Shopper360

SPINS Satori

Nielsen

IRI

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

C.A. Fortune is a national consumer-centric integrated commerce agency built to help brands win at retail. We deliver sales strategy, in-store execution, full-service marketing, and digital commerce through a single, fully integrated partner. Our capabilities span the full shelf: from getting brands on it, to getting them off it.

We’re passionate, energetic, and deeply motivated by one thing: helping brands win over customers and consumers. We bring together sales experts, marketers, e-commerce specialists, data analysts, and creatives. Different backgrounds, one mission.

Who We Are

C.A. Fortune is built on the belief that great people buildgreat brands.We'rea national consumer-centric integrated commerce agency. We show up every day to help brands of all sizes grow, compete, and lead. From emerging challengers toestablishedmarket leaders, we bring the sales horsepower, marketing firepower, and integrated thinking to move the needle at retail.

The best brands are built by the best people. Come build with us.

Overview of the Role

As a Category Manager at C.A., you will play an important role maintaining the go-to-marketanalytics designed to support, track, and grow core and new product initiatives for all retailers and channels with a focus on Albertsons. You will provide the analytics and insights needed to optimize pricing, promotion, distribution, and shelf placement as well as participate in business review analyses.

This position will function as an internal consultant and trusted advisor to our sales organization as well as our top customers and clients. The position will maintain value-added and actionable category management tools, incorporating customer learning and strategic brand insights that will guide sales and the client to achieve Key Performance objectives.

• Location: Hybrid to either the Chicago, IL office or the Boise, ID office (with flexibility to work from home)
• Salary: $85,000 - $95,000 based on experience, qualifications and skills.
• Travel Requirements: 10-20% to present to clients.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Define and implement an advanced business intelligence strategy aligned with the Insights Pillar vision, ensuring the function delivers actionable and measurable impact. In addition, support 1-5 top clients including reporting, retailer category reviews, client/retailer performance, etc.
• Analytical Excellence: Drive proficiency in key analytical tools and methodologies, optimizing how the team leages SPINS, Nielsen, IRI, Mintel, and other data sources to uncover business opportunities.
• Category & Business Insights:
  • Develop and execute category management strategies aligned with client KPIs and best-in-class merchandising principles.
  • Create fact-based category reviews, business reviews, and selling stories that integrate shopper, distributor, syndicated, and consumer insights to drive informed decision-making.
  • Lead and present business reviews and strategic recommendations to clients and retailers, influencing go-to-market strategies and shelf-space optimization.
  • Partner with sales teams to develop and deliver compelling account presentations on new items, share of shelf, and efficient assortment strategies.
• Performance & Promotional Analytics: Conduct post-promotional analyses to optimize future planning, ensuring programs deliver ROI and align with best practices.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as a key insights partner to internal teams, fostering alignment across category management, sales, and marketing.
• Process Optimization: Continuously refine methodologies for reporting, distribution void identification, and opportunity gap quantification to drive efficiency and effectiveness.

What You Should Bring to the Table

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred; 5+ years of CPG industry experience, preferably in Natural/Specialty/Organic food and beverage.
• Data & Analytics Mastery:
  • Advanced proficiency in SymphonyAI (Shopper360), SPINS (Satori), Nielsen, IRI, and other data platforms.
  • Expertise in selling story development, category reviews, and category management principles.
  • Highly advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills to support data storytelling.
• Strategic & Critical Thinking: Ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights and drive strategic recommendations.
• Process Efficiency & Innovation: Track record of implementing scalable processes to improve reporting, analytics, and team productivity.
• Exceptional Communication Skills: Strong ability to translate data-driven insights into clear, compelling narratives for both internal and external stakeholders.
• High-Performance Mentality: Thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with a focus on continuous improvement and impact.

You Will Stand Out If You Have

• Albertsons experience
• SymphonyAI experience
• Experience presenting to retailers
• PTO & Sick Days
• 11 paid company holidays per year
• 1 Floating Holiday
• 3 months fully paid parental leave (regardless of gender)
• Medical, dental, and vision
• Paid company life insurance
• 401k with company match
• Summer hours (half day Fridays from Memorial Day thru Labor Day)
• Work from home flexibility

Come As You Are

C.A. is committed to making our company more inclusive. Diversity fuels our innovation and better connects us to our clients, our colleagues, and our communities. Based on research, we know that women and other marginalized groups tend to apply to roles only when their experience perfectly matches the job description. That said, we encourage you to apply if you meet the majority of qualifications, especially if this role aligns with your career trajectory.