Category Manager, Channels

Post Holdings, Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 86,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the Consumer-Packaged Goods industry is seeking a Category Manager to drive category growth and establish partnerships with key retailers. This remote position involves leveraging data analytics to develop strategies and recommendations that enhance product placement and sales. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in category management and excellent communication skills, with opportunities for career advancement based on performance.

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of experience in the CPG industry.
• 1-2+ years in Category Management.
• Strong expertise in data analytics.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategy tailored to specific retailers.
• Drive category growth through insights and recommendations.
• Manage customer category review process.

Skills

Data Analytics

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Syndicated Data

Data Visualization

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Business Unit Overview

Headquartered in Lakeville, Minn., Post Consumer Brands, a business unit of Post Holdings, Inc., is dedicated to providing people and their pets with delicious food choices for every taste and budget. The company’s portfolio includes beloved brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats, PEBBLES, Grape-Nuts and Malt-O-Meal cereal, and Peter Pan peanut butter, as well as Nutrish, Kibbles ‘n Bits and 9Lives dog and cat food. As a company committed to high standards of quality and to our values, we are driven by one idea: To make lives better by making delicious food accessible for all. For more information about our brands, visit www.postconsumerbrands.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook for the latest news.

Brand

At Post Consumer Brands, we’ve spent generations showing up for families, starting with breakfast, the most important meal of the day. Our cereals have become a trusted part of daily routines, helping spark conversations, fuel busy mornings, and create everyday moments that bring families closer together, including their furry four-legged family members, who have recently become a part of our story. As families have evolved, so have we. What began at the breakfast table has expanded into snacks, peanut butter, and, more recently, pet food, because caring for a family means feeding every part of it. With the addition of several iconic pet brands, we’ve extended our purpose: to make high-quality, accessible food for everyone under the same roof.

This phase is still new, and that’s what makes it exciting. As we continue to grow across grocery and pet, we’re looking for people who care about good food, thoughtful work, and the kind of impact that stretches from store shelves to kitchen tables, and food bowls, across the country.

Location Description

This position is remote.

Responsibilities

Joining the PCBCategory ManagementTeam asthe Category Managerof Channelsoffers a unique opportunity to lead and shape the category strategy for a leading brand in the Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. This role is crucial in driving category growth andestablishinglong-term partnerships with key retailers. You will have the chance toleverageyourexpertisein category management to influence major business decisions and drive profitable growth. Our supportive and innovative environmentprovidesample opportunitiesfor professional development and career advancement.

This individual will conduct best-in-class shopper and category analysis using multiple syndicated and custom data sources to generate actionable and specific recommendations across product, pricing, promotion, and placement. Customizing strategy and executing aligned efforts by using effective communication and influence that drives category growth while meeting retailers’ goals is a priority for this position.

The idealCandidate shouldleveragecritical thinking and problem-solving skills to recognize andanticipateissues and opportunities by elevating analyses beyond reporting and translate insightsintostrategyretail actions.

Responsibilitiesand Key Performance Objectives (KPOs):

1. Develop and Execute Category Strategy:Thesuccessful candidate will develop a comprehensive category strategy tailored totheirspecific retailers. This involves understanding retailer needs,leveragingconsumer and category insights, and gaining cooperation from all relevant stakeholdersto deliver fully integrated consumer, shopper, category and marketplace insights and trends to guide strategic choices and tactical executions. Success will be measured by the establishment ofstrongcategory partnershipswith theirretailers, andachieving category growth ahead of the marketfor the short and long term.

2. Drive Category Growth through Insights and Recommendations:The candidate willconduct robust,customized retailer analysis using national research, category management capabilities, analytical tools, and data visualization toidentifyand communicate business opportunities or challengesandprovide actionable category management insights and recommendations in areas such as product assortment, placement, pricing, and promotion.The effectiveness of these efforts will be evaluated through increased category sales and retailer recognition of Post as the cereal experts.

3. Manage Customer Category Review Process: The candidate willbe responsible formanaging the customer category review process, including presenting shelfrecommendationsand developing planograms (POGs) that drive category growth.They will own implementation of perfect shelf initiative attheirretailers, working with Category Development to understand overall strategy as needed.Successismeasured by the acceptance and implementation of these recommendations by the retailer.

4. Align with Salesand CS&ETeamsto Maximize Opportunities:Thecandidate will alignandcoordinate inputs fromtheir PCBSalesTeamsand the Commercial, Strategy and Execution teams toidentifyand close the biggest opportunities for customer growth.They willsupport Category Management outputs such as Customer Playbooks, Annual Planning, Quarterly Business Reviewsand prepare for key customer meetings where resets,line reviewsand strategic alignmentare discussed.This includestaking a leadership role inJoint Business Planning meetings and presenting recommendations for category growth.Success will be measured by the successful execution of these plans and the achievement of sales targets.

5. Develop Customized Selling Tools and Stories: By the end of the first year, the candidate will develop customized, fact-based selling tools and stories that support Post growth initiatives anddemonstratehow these initiatives drive overall category growth. The success of thisobjectivewill be assessed through the effectiveness of these tools in driving sales and enhancing retailer relationships.

Challengesto overcome in this Role:

• Balancing the diverseobjectivesand expectations ofvariedretailers while developing a cohesive category strategy.

• Ensuringtimelyexecution of category management plans amidst tight deadlines and budget constraints.

• Continuouslyoptimizingcategory strategies based on real-time data and feedback, requiring agility and adaptability.

• Maintaining clear and effective communication across multiple teams and stakeholders to ensure alignment and collaboration.

Work Environment:

The Category Manager will work in aremoteenvironment andbe expected to connect effectively via virtual tools and platforms. They must also be willing to travel to PCB headquarters in Lakeville, MN and to their requisite Retailer headquarters locations, as needed.

The role involves close collaboration withvarioussales teams, brand partners,CS&E team membersand key retailers. Our company culture is team-oriented, innovative, and supportive, fostering an environment where employees are encouraged to share ideas and take initiative.

The candidate will use tools suchasSyndicated Data (Nielsen/IRI, Spectra, Panel Data), Space Planning (JDA), and Microsoft Office Suite for data analysis and presentation.

Growth Opportunities:

Achieving the KPOs will position the candidate for career advancement within the company. Success in this roledemonstratesstrategic thinking, effective execution, and the ability to drive profitable growth, making the candidate a strong contender for higher-level positions in category management, sales strategy, or field sales.

Process of Success:

• First 30 Days: Learn about the company’s category management strategies, meet key stakeholders, and understand current category plans and retailer relationships.

• 60 Days: Develop a short-term action plan, start collaborating with the sales team and retailers, and begin gathering consumer and category insights.

• 90 Days: Implement theinitialcategory strategy, start tracking performance, and make initial optimizations based on early data.

• 6 Months: Present the first set of category recommendations, ensure alignment with the salesand CS&Eteams, and begin managing the customer category review process.

• 1 Year: Complete the development of customized selling tools,optimizecategory strategies based on insights, and achieve the predefined KPOs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree

• 3-5+ years of experience in the CPG industry in Cat Man, Sales, Business Analytics and/or Insights.

• 1-2+ years in Category Management and/or Category Development specifically

• Strongexpertisedataanalytics, leveragingsyndicated data (IRI/Nielsen),retailerportaldataandshopperinsights portals is preferred,especiallyin the Mass, Dollar,eComand/or Club Channel

• Highly skilled indata visualization,leveragingfacts+insights to build compelling stories with actionable recommendations, andcompellingpresentation building

• Exceptional communication skills that include verbal, written, presentation and follow-through

• Passion for winning, can-do attitude, superior drive for results,demonstratedability tocollaborate effectivelyand createinfluential partnerships with the customer andcross-functionalbusiness partners.

The pay range for this position is $86,899 - $128,609 per year.