Manager, Category Advisory - Target

J.M. Smucker; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

J.M. Smucker is seeking a Manager, Category Advisory to lead the Target partnership and develop actionable insights that drive category growth. You will coach two direct reports and collaborate with Target's category management team to craft strategies, POGs, and data-driven recommendations.

The role requires strong analytics, relationship-building, and cross-functional teamwork, with hybrid work in Minneapolis and occasional travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• 5+ years of work experience in Sales Analytics, Category Management, or Shopper Insights
• Strong analytical, interpretive, and problem-solving skills to uncover trends and insights
• Experience using POS, Panel, and Retailer Shopper data (ie. Nielsen, IRI/Circana, DOMO, PartnersOnline, PowerBI / Tableau)
• Proficient in JDA Space Planning software and experience building POGs
• Customer facing experience working with Target, preferably on an Advisory
• Demonstrated ability to develop high-quality relationships
• Strong cross-functional teamwork orientation
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to influence decisions
• Self-motivated with ability to manage multiple projects
• Ability to travel as needed (less than 10%)

Responsibilities

• Manage, coach and develop a team of 2 direct reports
• Track sales trends and insights; develop and perform weekly sales reporting to deliver to the buyer
• Identify key opportunities and risks
• Participate in the development of Category strategies based on insights and opportunities
• Review category and item-level performance data to provide clear, actionable recommendations on driving the most productive assortment
• Translates and synthesizes consumer, category and shopper insights into strategic growth stories for retailer-specific recommendations
• Translates national and channel category trends into retailer-specific opportunities
• Influence category strategies leveraging shopper and category data to drive growth
• Deliver POGs for Transition and Revisions (1x/year transition), 3-4x/year seasonal revisions
• Identify market opportunities using data sources like IRI/Circana, Nielsen and retailer data
• Assist in development of category reviews to grow total category sales
• Use multiple data sources to identify opportunities with a multi-channel approach
• Develop solutions around distribution, promotion, pricing, and shelf-placement
• Prepare presentations on trends, opportunities, and growth solutions
• Participate in design/drawing of Plan-o-grams using JDA
• Conduct in-store and online competitive retailer downloads
• Provide seasonal performance analyses and recaps
• Assist other functions to develop business opportunities

Skills

Sales analytics

Category management

Shopper insights

Cross-functional teamwork

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

JDA Space Planning

Nielsen / Circana data tools

PowerBI / Tableau

Job description

Your Opportunity as the Manager, Category Advisory - Target

Join the Category Advisory team supporting Target, where you will be responsible for leading the customer and a team of 2 direct reports to drive category growth at Target. You will be responsible for partnering closely with the Target category management team to develop strategies, tactics and writing POGs to execute and deliver category growth. You will build customer strategies and deliverables, collect, summarize, and present available data and recommended solutions to provide the Target category management team with information necessary to develop the business. This role is a player coach with the opportunity to develop into a strong leader of their team.

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Work Arrangements

Hybrid - onsite a minimum of 9 days a month primarily during core weeks as determined by the Company; maybe more as business need requires

In this role you will:

• Manage, coach and develop a team of 2 direct reports
• Track sales trends and insights Develop and perform weekly sales reporting to deliver to the buyer
• Identify key opportunities and risks
• Participate in the development of Category strategies based on insights and opportunities
• Review category and item-level performance data to provide clear, actionable recommendations on driving the most productive assortment on shelf for new and existing teams
• Translates and synthesizes consumer, category and shopper insights into strategic growth stories and initiatives with customized retailer specific application / recommendations
• Translates national and channel category trends into retailer specific category opportunities
• Influence and build category strategies leveraging account specific shopper and category data and insights to drive growth
• Deliver POGs for Transition and Revisions (1x/year transition), 3-4x/year seasonal revisions)
• Identify market opportunities leveraging all available tools & resources: Analyze customer's business using IRI/Circana, Nielsen and customer's proprietary data (shopper card, POS).
• Assist in the development of category reviews that will be leveraged to grow total category sales
• Use information from multiple data sources to identify Category opportunities with a multi-channel approach
• Develop solutions with respect to product distribution, promotion, pricing, and shelf-placement
• Prepare clear and concise presentations to inform customer of business/consumer trends, existing opportunities, and solutions for growth
• Participate in the design and drawing of Plan-o-grams using JDA software
• Conduct both in-store and online competitive retailer downloads (i.e. comp shops)
• Provide seasonal performance analysis and recaps
• Assist other functional areas to develop business opportunities

What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• 5+ years of work experience in Sales Analytics, Category Management, or Shopper Insights
• Strong background utilizing analytical, interpretive, and problem-solving skills to uncover trends and insights
• Experience using POS, Panel, and Retailer Shopper data (ie. Nielsen, IRI/Circana, DOMO, PartnersOnline, PowerBI / Tableau)
• Proficient in JDA Space Planning software and experience building POGs
• Customer facing experience working with Target, preferably on an Advisory
• Demonstrated ability to develop high-quality relationships
• Strong cross-functional teamwork orientation
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to influence decisions
• Self-motivated with ability to manage multiple projects
• Ability to travel as needed (less than 10%)

The Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs , and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

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We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.