Category Manager

Medela LLC; McHenry (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with match

16-week Paid Parental Leave

Generous PTO package, including 14 paid holidays

Comprehensive benefits plan

Job summary

Medela LLC in McHenry, IL is seeking a Channel Category Manager to lead category growth across key retail channels. This role requires a strategic thinker passionate about utilizing shopper insights and data to influence retailers. Responsibilities include analyzing market trends, developing strategies, and collaborating with sales and marketing teams.

Requires 3+ years in Category Management and a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Benefits include comprehensive plans and a hybrid working model.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in Category Management, Shopper Marketing, or related fields.
• Strong analytical skills to turn data into actionable recommendations.
• Experience with category management principles and shopper behavior.

Responsibilities

• Lead category and channel strategies to drive growth.
• Analyze market trends and sales performance to identify opportunities.
• Develop compelling category stories and presentations for retailers.

Skills

Analytical skills

Data-driven decision making

Communication skills

Relationship-building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, or related field

Tools

Nielsen

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Overview

Channel Category Manager Medela LLC in McHenry, IL www.medela.com Hybrid: Three days in the office Salary: starting at $100K plus bonus

Are you passionate about turning shopper insights into winning retail strategies? Do you love using data, trends, and category expertise to influence major retailers and drive growth? If so, we want to hear from you. We are looking for a strategic and analytical Channel Category Manager to help shape category growth across key retail channels and customer accounts. In this role, you will partner closely with Sales, Marketing, and Key Account teams to develop data-driven category strategies, shopper-focused recommendations, and compelling retailer presentations that grow both the business and customer partnerships.

What You’ll Do

• Lead category and channel strategies that drive growth across key retail accounts
• Analyze market trends, shopper insights, sales performance, and competitive data to identify opportunities
• Partner with Sales and Key Account teams to support customer planning and business initiatives
• Develop compelling category stories, presentations, and recommendations for retail partners
• Create assortment, merchandising, and in-store execution strategies that improve shopper engagement and sales
• Identify distribution gaps and growth opportunities across retail channels
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Finance, Product, and Sales teams to align priorities and execution
• Help position the company as a trusted category expert with customers and retail partners

What You Bring

• 3+ years of experience in Category Management, Shopper Marketing, Trade Marketing, Channel Management, Sales Strategy, or related fields
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, or related field
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn data into actionable business recommendations
• Experience working with retailers, distributors, or strategic customer accounts
• Experience supporting retail, CPG, consumer healthcare, baby products, or related industries
• Knowledge of category management principles, assortment strategy, merchandising, and shopper behavior
• Experience with category and market data tools such as Nielsen, Circana/IRI, GFK, Power BI, Tableau, or similar platforms
• Experience with planogram or merchandising tools such as Spaceman
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment

Benefits

• Opportunity to directly influence retail growth strategy and customer partnerships
• Highly collaborative and strategic role with visibility across the organization
• Fast-paced environment where your ideas and insights make an impact
• Career growth opportunities within a growing organization
• Hybrid working model: Three on-site office days, Two home office days
• Comprehensive benefits plan
• 401K with match
• Money Purchase Plan
• 16-week Paid Parental Leave
• Generous PTO package, including 14 paid holidays

Equal Employment Opportunity

As an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, protected veteran status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, HIV/AIDs status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity (transgender status), weight, height or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance.