Senior Category Manager

Bimbo Bakeries USA; Cincinnati (OH); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Bimbo Bakeries USA in Cincinnati, OH is seeking a Senior Manager Category Management to lead shopper and category insights, optimize product assortment, and drive overall category performance. The role serves as a key advisor to sales teams and leadership to ensure strategic alignment and growth.

The position is hybrid in Cincinnati, OH, with responsibility for space management projects and presenting data-driven recommendations to senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Sales, Marketing, or Business field; Senior Manager level in CPG Category Management.
• 10+ years of customer-facing experience in the CPG industry and Category Management.
• Strong analytical and written/verbal communication skills; thorough understanding of POS and Panel data.
• Experience managing people and developing individuals.

Responsibilities

• Analyze shopper and category insights to optimize product assortment and placement; propose solutions to improve category performance.
• Lead all space management projects and Kroger’s Kompass process and related initiatives.
• Advise leadership and Customer Sales on space opportunities and market trends.
• Present persuasive, fact-based sales presentations leveraging customer, industry, market, and competitive data.
• Collaborate with Customer Sales Team, Brands, Business Units, and RGM on assortment, void closures, at-risk items, and innovation.

Skills

Category management

Data analysis

Excel

PowerPoint

POS data

Panel data

JDA

Apollo

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Sales/Marketing/Business

Tools

JDA

Apollo

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Senior Manager Category Management | Bimbo Bakeries USA

This is a full-time Senior Manager role at Bimbo Bakeries USA, located in Cincinnati, OH. Bimbo Bakeries is a leading baking company. This role is crucial for interpreting shopper and category insights, optimizing product assortment, and driving overall category performance. This position serves as a key advisor to sales teams and leadership, ensuring strategic alignment and growth.

The TL;DR

• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Hybrid, Cincinnati, OH
• Mission: Owns optimizing product assortment and placement to improve overall category performance through shopper and category insights.
• Tech Stack: JDA, Apollo, Microsoft Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint), POS data, Panel data, retailer shopper card data

What You’ll Actually Do

• Analyze: Interpret shopper and category insights to optimize product assortment, evaluate product placement, and propose solutions to improve overall category performance.
• Lead: Lead and deliver all space management projects and activities, including Kroger’s Kompass process and any internal space management initiatives.
• Advise: Act as a Category Management expert and advisor to leadership and the Customer Sales team, influencing decisions by reviewing shelf space opportunities and business trends.
• Present: Develop persuasive, fact-based sales presentations by leveraging customer, industry, market, and competitive information to recommend action plans.
• Collaborate: Proactively communicate and work with the Customer Sales Team, Brands, Business Units, and RGM on assortment opportunities, including void closures, at-risk items, and innovation.

The Must-Haves

• Background: Bachelor’s Degree in Sales, Marketing, or Business related field; Senior Manager career level in CPG Category Management.
• Experience: 10+ years of customer-facing experience in the CPG industry and Category Management. Proven experience converting data into logical, actionable strategies. Experience managing people, including the creation of individualized development plans.
• Skills: Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; effective written and verbal communication skills; thorough understanding of POS and Panel data; strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint) and space management software (JDA or Apollo).
• Bonus: Grocery and Mass channel experience is preferred. Comfortable presenting to Customers and Senior Executives. Highly motivated self-starter with strong project management skills, capable of multi-tasking in a matrix organization.